31 Boys & Girls Club Organizations honor
Mental Health Awareness Month as part of Statewide Club
Initiative
INDIANA, May 10, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Indiana held a statewide day of service, on
May 9, 2024, as part of their
national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. This
statewide initiative brought together more than 160 Club locations
in Indiana that serve
approximately 100,000 youth. Aligning with Mental Health Awareness
Month, the day of service included diverse groups of Club youth,
ages five to 18 years old, alongside dedicated leadership and
volunteers, united with one common goal, to make a positive impact
on Indiana's communities,
especially among the youth who live there.
Rooted in a statewide tree planting effort, youth and volunteers
at Club locations across Indiana
planted more than 120 trees to exemplify the collective impact to
enhance communities throughout the state. The events also featured
a ceremonial plaque dedication to honor Lilly Endowment Inc.'s
generous support, which provides high-quality programs, capital and
renovation projects to better serve kids and teens in communities
across the state. The initiative aimed to enhance the state's
greenery, gives a breath of fresh air to local communities and
serves as a symbol of overall well-being for Indiana's youth.
"Boys & Girls Clubs are more than just a place for kids to
go after school," said, Jennifer
Bateman, senior vice president, youth development, Boys
& Girls Clubs of America. "Clubs are pillars of the
community, offering a mentally safe and supportive environment
where young people can find a sense of belonging."
Since 2022, when Boys & Girls Clubs of America was awarded a
$30 million grant from Lilly
Endowment through its initiative Strengthening Youth Programs in
Indiana, Clubs throughout the
state of Indiana have united to
enhance youth programming and accessibility to young people with
the opening of 40 new Club locations statewide. Beyond that, Boys
& Girls Clubs across Indiana
have increased registered members by 18% and advanced their average
daily attendance by 21% -- offering more youth a safe space to
learn and grow. Clubs across the state are also equipping nearly
2,000 staff members with trauma-informed training to better support
the social and emotional experiences of young people.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Indiana is focused on bettering the lives of
youth and intergenerational mobility. This day of service is
representative of the Club's goal to plant the seeds for a greater
future for the youth across the state. The act will leave behind a
legacy of beautiful trees that will last for generations to
come.
For additional information on Boys & Girls Clubs of
Indiana, please visit
www.indianabgc.org.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of
America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for
kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors,
fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a
daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls
Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and
leadership, and healthy lifestyles. Over 5,400 Clubs serve more
than 3 million young people through Club membership and community
outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on
Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in
BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations
worldwide. The national headquarters is located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls
Clubs of America on Facebook and X.
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SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America