Boys & Girls Clubs of America and National Partners Rally Behind America’s Youth This Back-to-School Season

Press Release

ATLANTA–As students return to the classroom this fall, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and its national corporate partners are launching a series of back-to-school initiatives. Together they are helping more young people access safe afterschool spaces where they receive academic support, guidance from caring mentors and opportunities to build the life skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.

The hours between school dismissal and parents returning home remain one of the greatest challenges facing America’s families. According to the National Center for Education, today, 1 in 2 young people lack access to an afterschool program, leaving millions without a safe place to learn, grow and belong during the most critical hours of the day. Each year, Boys & Girls Clubs of America opens its doors to more than 4 million young people, providing afterschool programming where kids and teens can build essential skills, develop meaningful relationships and discover passions that prepare them for great futures.

At Clubs across the country, afterschool programs are a launchpad for academic success, healthy development and lifelong opportunity. Four in five Club youth report earning mostly As and Bs in school, while 83% say they have not skipped school in the past month and 97% believe they will graduate from high school.

Beyond academic achievement, nearly every Boys & Girls Club offers free, healthy meals and snacks, serving more than 86 million each year to help young people stay nourished, focused and ready to learn. Just as important, Clubs foster a sense of belonging that helps young people thrive. Nine in 10 youth say they feel accepted at their Club and know there is a trusted adult who will listen and encourage them, creating the foundation for resilience and long-term success.

“Preparing young people for success happens both in and out of the classroom, and we all have a role to play,” said Jim Clark, president & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Every day, Boys & Girls Clubs provide a safe, supportive place where kids and teens gain the skills and experiences to thrive in school and become future-ready. That support has a lasting impact. In fact, young Club alumni are 60% more likely to be employed full-time than their peers. We’re grateful for partners who help provide the opportunities and resources young people need for a successful school year today and great futures tomorrow.”

This year’s campaign brings together a coalition of national brands through customer giving campaigns, volunteer initiatives and community investments that expand access to Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide. Together, these efforts will help more young people start the school year with the resources, support and opportunities they need to thrive.

Turn Back-to-School Shopping into Great Futures for America’s Youth

As families prepare for a new school year, they can make a difference for young people with every purchase, donation, or round-up at participating retailers nationwide. Through cause campaigns and customer donation programs, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s partners are making it easy for shoppers to help expand access to safe afterschool spaces, academic support, caring mentors, and life-changing opportunities for Club youth.

This back-to-school season, customers can make a meaningful difference for young people by donating at checkout, rounding up purchases, or supporting special fundraising campaigns at participating partner locations nationwide, including:

• adidas is helping Boys & Girls Clubs of America equip young people for a successful school year. adidas stores will invite customers to donate at checkout to support Boys & Girls Clubs.
• Belk supports Boys & Girls Clubs of America through three annual campaigns a year, two of which occur right before school lets out in the Spring and another in August to celebrate the back-to-school season. For the last two years, Belk has raised $500,000 in supporting the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide at their retailers. You can donate at checkout in-stores this August to help support youth everywhere.
• Bridgestone Retail Operations’ Driving Great Futures partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America is continuing to make out-of-school programming more accessible by addressing transportation barriers. This fall, the partnership will celebrate its 100th van donation to a local Boys & Girls Club, a milestone reached during the 100th anniversary year of Firestone Complete Auto Care, a Bridgestone Retail Operations brand. You can support Club youth by donating at participating Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, Hibdon Tires Plus and Wheel Works locations.
• Caesars Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America are helping prepare young people for success in school, careers, and life through workforce readiness, leadership development, and career exploration programs. Through the Company’s ‘Caesars Makes Change’ program, guests can donate their spare change when cashing out slot tickets to help support local Clubs and expand opportunities that empower youth to build confidence, develop essential skills, and pursue Great Futures.
• Fandango gives moviegoers an easy way to support Boys & Girls Clubs of America by rounding up ticket purchases at checkout. Every contribution this back-to-school season helps create opportunities for young people to experience the magic of the movies — sparking creativity and inspiring the next generation of filmmakers, producers, storytellers, and other entertainment industry leaders.
• From August 3 through October 4, 2026, funds raised from the sale of the Jimmy John’s PB&J Cookie will support Boys & Girls Clubs of America and other youth-serving organizations through the Jimmy John’s Foundation. Every PB&J Cookie purchased helps power essential Life & Workforce Readiness programming at Clubs nationwide, equipping young people with real-world skills, financial literacy, career exploration, and leadership training to prepare them for a great future.
• Through its annual Add-A-Buck in-store fundraising campaign, Kids Foot Locker is inviting customers to support Boys & Girls Clubs of America and help kids get ready for school and ready for life. Funds raised through September 12 help provide Club youth with access to caring mentors, enriching programs, and opportunities to succeed in school and beyond. In addition, Kids Foot Locker will host back-to-school activations in Chicago and New York City, providing Club youth with school supplies, merchandise, and other essentials to help them show up First Day Fresh and ready for a successful school year.
• Customers can donate at the register at Michaels to help bring creative spaces, resources and experiences to millions of kids in communities across North America. Michaels’ partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America supports programs that help kids tap into their creative potential – including access to arts supplies, hands-on activities, and dedicated spaces where imagination and self-expression can thrive.
• Murphy USA’s ‘Great Futures Fueled Here’ campaign has raised over $15 million for Boys & Girls Clubs. Running until September 8, 2026, across 27 states at all Murphy USA and Murphy Express locations, customers can donate $1–$10 or round up their purchase to the nearest dollar at checkout. Proceeds empower vital back-to-school and afterschool programming, expanding access to safe spaces and equipping Club youth with the tools they need to succeed throughout the school year.
• Puma is proud to continue its support of Boys & Girls Clubs of America this Back-to-School season. Throughout September, customers shopping at participating PUMA outlet stores can make a voluntary donation at checkout to support BGCA’s mission to empower young people.
• Customers can round up their purchase at Shoe Carnival, Shoe Station and Rogan’s thru August 31 to support Boys & Girls Clubs, helping empower the next generation to reach their full potential.

For decades, Cox has championed the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of America—leveling the playing field and helping build brighter futures for young people. This August, Manheim auctions across the country will raise critical funds for local Clubs, while Cox Automotive and Cox Enterprises employees provide hands-on volunteer support where it’s needed most. Together, these efforts demonstrate Cox’s commitment to supporting the communities we serve, expanding access to education and career opportunities, and helping the next generation reach its full potential.

Lenovo and Boys & Girls Clubs of America are working together to expand access to technology, digital skills, STEM learning, and Esports opportunities, empowering young people across the country with the tools and experiences needed to thrive in a digital world. This back-to-school season, when you donate to Boys & Girls Clubs of America online from August 24 through August 31 or by direct mail through September 30, Lenovo will match your donations (up to $75,000) to help create more pathways for the next generation of leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers. Learn more and donate at bgca.org/lenovo.

Partners Help Ensure Club Kids Start the School Year Strong

Across the country, partners are helping Club kids begin the school year with confidence through hands-on volunteerism, school supply donations, educational programming, and investments in academic achievement. These initiatives help create pathways for young people to learn, grow, and build great futures.

Panda Cares, the philanthropic arm of Panda Express, helps youth succeed through academic support, mentorship, and safe learning environments, made possible by the generosity of associates and guests who donate at registers year-round. Each August, Panda associates celebrate Panda Cares Day by hosting back-to-school events at more than 100 Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide, providing school supplies, meals, and other essentials while supporting programs that help youth thrive.

Through its Ready for School initiative, Raymond James is preparing Boys & Girls Club youth to succeed inside, outside and beyond the classroom. Raymond James supports key academic programming that ensures Boys & Girls Club youth have the skills, tools and resources they need to thrive at school. In addition to programmatic support, Raymond James employees held a national school supply drive which resulted in hundreds of backpacks filled with school supplies donated to Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide.

Kohl’s Cares is giving $1,000 shopping grants to 165 Boys & Girls Clubs around the country to help Clubs offset some of their back-to-school expenses, and to help ensure young people and Clubs have the resources they need to be confident this fall.

This back-to-school season, Sharpie and Paper Mate, part of Newell Brands’ portfolio of iconic brands, are joining forces with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to spark creativity and help Club youth start the school year strong. Through their three-year, $1 million partnership, Sharpie and Paper Mate provide essential school supplies and engaging experiences that empower young people to express themselves, build confidence, and thrive both in and out of the classroom.

Ross Stores is helping Club youth start the school year strong through its national support of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Power Hour program, providing academic resources and homework support to help equip young people with the tools and confidence they need to succeed in school. Ross also supports local Clubs by hosting backpack and school supply drives across its offices and distribution centers to help kids start the school year prepared.

Old Navy is enabling teens to head back to school with the confidence, career exploration, and workforce readiness skills they need for success throughout the school year and beyond through its signature program, This Way ONward. This work builds on Old Navy’s broader commitment to creating opportunities for youth, including its recent back-to-school donation drive with BGCA, which raised $1 million to support young people across the U.S.

For more than two decades, Comcast has partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to expand access to digital literacy and technology-focused learning opportunities. Through digital skills development and career exploration, the partnership helps prepare youth for emerging workforce opportunities while supporting economic mobility.

Through the Money Matters: Make it Count personal financial literacy program, Charles Schwab Foundation empowers teens with essential money management skills while recognizing outstanding youth leaders with one $10,000 Money Matters Ambassador scholarship and four $5,000 runner-up scholarships.

The Krusteaz Company supports Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s back-to-school programming by giving back to local communities in their area. The Krusteaz Company partners with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to combat food insecurity and help improve the wellbeing of kids and teens starting with back-to-school.

The public can join in supporting essential afterschool programming by shopping or supporting any of these establishments nationwide this season. To learn more, visit bgca.org/backtoschool.

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 5,500 Clubs serve more than 4 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 LinkedIn.

Media Contacts 

Isabella Luna
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
678-896-64620
iluna@bgca.org