How Fandango Helped Military-Connected Youth Build Community, Creativity and New Passions Through the Power of Movies
Through the Boys and Girls Clubs of America’s partnership with Fandango, seven BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers participated in fourteen movie outings, giving military-connected kids across the country a break from their routine and a chance to share a fun, movie-going experience. These outings helped foster community, creativity and belonging. Youth from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Schriever Youth Programs, Quantico Youth Center, National Guard Child and Youth Services, Fairchild AFB Youth Program Teen Center, Joint Base Lewis McChord CYS Services, and USAG Fort Gordon Child and Youth Services all took part.
Fandango Partnership Movie Experience and Youth Engagement
Creativity and self-expression are essential to helping young people discover who they are and what they can become. Nationally, 72 percent of Club kids say they can communicate their thoughts and feelings through art, while 55 percent say they are interested in exploring future careers in the arts. The Fandango partnership helped bring those interests to life.
The experience sparked a wave of inspiration at Fort Gordon Child and Youth Services. After seeing Hoopers, a group of young people decided to create their own welcome video for new kids arriving at the center. What began as a simple movie night became a catalyst for storytelling, collaboration and leadership. As one youth shared:
“In the movie, Mable transfers her mind (Hoops) to communicate with the animals. Military kids must hoop from Garrison to Garrison with their parents and continue to start over and learn how to communicate with new teens in their new location, so we wanted to make a welcome video to support the youth sponsorship program and what the Teen Center has to offer.” — Serenity, Fort Gordon Youth
The event highlighted the power of shared experiences and the potential to ignite a passion for the entertainment industry, all while supporting BGCA’s mission of helping youth build great futures and imagine new possibilities. Danielle Johnson-Whiteman, a staff member at the Schriever Space Force Base Youth Center, described the moment kids walked into the 3D theater for the first time:
“It was more than just a fun movie night. It was an opportunity for them to see the magic of movies come to life and imagine themselves behind the scenes.”
How Boys & Girls Clubs Support Military Youth
For military youth, experiences like these matter. Kids in military families move between six and nine times on average during their school years. That level of transition can make it difficult to build lasting friendships or feel rooted in a community. Boys and Girls Clubs of America-affiliated Youth Centers help fill that gap by creating spaces where young people can build stability, confidence, and connection.
These Youth Centers serve more than 285,000 youth on U.S. military installations around the world and an additional 23,000 military-connected youth in local communities nationwide. No matter where a family moves, a Club is nearby to provide support.
During the summer months, when school is out and families are looking for safe, enriching and affordable options, social outings through Boys & Girls Clubs partnership with Fandango help young people feel included and inspired, providing these kids with fun summer experiences that give them a chance to relax, have fun and share moments that strengthen their sense of belonging.
Fandango’s support makes these opportunities possible. Through Fandango’s round-up fundraiser, moviegoers across the country have raised over $3M to make these movie experiences possible.
Click here to learn more about the Fandango partnership or find a Boys and Girls Club or Youth Center near you and explore programs that help young people build great futures.
