Boys & Girls Clubs of America Prepares the Next Generation of Leaders Through Character and Leadership Experiences
Press Release
ATLANTA, July 30, 2026 – Boys & Girls Clubs of America is helping prepare the next generation of leaders through year-round character and leadership experiences that empower millions of young people across the country with opportunities to lead, serve their communities and thrive in future careers. Young people are eager to make a difference. In fact, 91% of young people believe that everyone should have access to civic education; however, only 4-in-10 (43%) feel prepared to take civic action.
Through Boys & Girls Clubs of America character and leadership programming, young people strengthen essential life skills, develop a sense of responsibility, discover the value of service and learn how to use their voices to create meaningful change. Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2025 Youth Right Now Survey found that 74% of youth believe they can make a positive difference in their community, demonstrating the confidence and leadership potential of today’s young people.
Character and leadership experiences are a cornerstone of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s commitment to preparing young people for life beyond graduation. By giving youth meaningful opportunities to lead, serve and advocate, Clubs help build the confidence, character and leadership skills they need to succeed in school, careers and life. Each year, Boys & Girls Clubs provide leadership experiences for 4 million young people, helping create the next generation of leaders. The impact is lasting; Club alumni are 33% more likely to see themselves as leaders than other adults.
“The changemakers our communities need tomorrow are building the skills and confidence they need today,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Whether organizing community service projects or speaking up for issues they care about, teens at Boys & Girls Clubs are learning that real impact starts with taking action. When young people are given meaningful opportunities to step up, solve problems and make a difference, they graduate ready to strengthen their communities wherever life takes them.”
Recognizing the Next Generation of Leaders
Each year, 16,000 teens participate in Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Youth of the Year program, the organization’s premier leadership and recognition initiative that empowers young people to use their voices, share their stories and inspire others. Following celebrations honoring outstanding youth leaders across the country through Regional Youth of the Year events, Boys & Girls Clubs of America will next recognize exceptional military-connected youth at the Military Youth of the Year celebration before crowning the National Youth of the Year; the organization’s highest honor for Club teens. Together, these young people represent the impact of the organization’s commitment to preparing the next generation of leaders.
Through its Ready for School initiative, Raymond James is helping Boys & Girls Club teens build leadership skills and prepare for success inside, outside and beyond the classroom. As the presenting partner of the Youth of the Year program, Raymond James is ensuring more youth have access to scholarships, mentorship and experiences that equip them with the skills and resources to succeed in college, career and life.
Kohl’s is committed to helping young people build confidence, develop strong character and reach their full potential through its partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. By investing in signature programs like National Youth of the Year and supporting trauma-informed practices, Kohl’s is helping equip young people with the resilience, confidence and skills they need to thrive while creating opportunities that empower the next generation of leaders to achieve great futures.
Through their long-standing partnership, Maytag brand and Boys & Girls Clubs of America are building stronger communities by honoring the dependable leaders who change young lives while expanding access to nutritious food for Club kids and families. Together, they are ensuring young people have the mentors, resources and support they need to reach their full potential.
Old Navy is committed to helping young people build the confidence, skills, and workforce readiness they need to open doors to all of life’s opportunities through its signature program, This Way ONward. This commitment is further strengthened through Old Navy’s partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and support of the Youth of the Year program, which recognizes and celebrates exceptional youth leaders across the country.
Helping Teens Build Character Through Service
Character development is at the heart of the Boys & Girls Club experience. Through age-appropriate experiences that emphasize responsibility, integrity, teamwork, empathy and service, Club youth learn what it means to lead with purpose. Whether organizing community service projects, mentoring younger members or taking on leadership roles within their Clubs, young people gain the confidence and character needed to make an impact that extends well beyond graduation.
As the leading supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Character and Leadership strategy, Lilly Endowment Inc. is helping embed Character and Leadership as a foundational part of the Club Experience, ensuring young people develop the values, skills, and relationships that prepare them to lead in their schools, communities and future careers. With a grant through Lilly Endowment’s Character Development Programs in National Youth-Serving Organizations, Boys & Girls Clubs of America is strengthening programs, expanding access to high-quality leadership opportunities and equipping Clubs to foster the next generation of leaders through meaningful, everyday experiences.
Planet Fitness and Boys & Girls Clubs of America celebrate young people who lead with compassion through the Judgement Free Generation® Scholarship program. Unlike traditional scholarships, there is no academic or GPA requirement and recipients are selected solely on how well they embody the values of kindness, belonging and acceptance. By recognizing teens who create welcoming spaces, support their peers and make a positive impact in their communities, the program reinforces that character and compassion are key qualities of leadership.
The Panda Cares Scholars Program celebrates students who exemplify the qualities of tomorrow’s leaders—academic excellence, a commitment to service and the character to create meaningful change. By recognizing scholars who lead with integrity, compassion and purpose, the program invests in young people whose impact reaches far beyond the classroom.
Teaching Youth to Lead Through Civic Engagement
In July, Boys & Girls Clubs of America brought teens from across the country to Washington, D.C., for the Summit for America’s Youth (SAY); the culmination of the organization’s Think, Learn, Create Change (TLC) initiative. Throughout the year, young people build leadership and advocacy skills by identifying issues that matter most to them, collaborating with peers and trusted mentors and developing solutions to create meaningful change. Through these experiences, Club teens are not only preparing to lead today, but are also developing the skills, confidence and civic responsibility needed to become engaged, informed and compassionate citizens. At SAY, they put those skills into action, meeting with policymakers and sharing their lived experiences to help shape a better future for young people.
Five Below served as a Co-Presenting Sponsor of the Summit for America’s Youth, engaging attendees through speed mentoring and career fair activities that showcased career opportunities and insights into working at Five Below. The company also supported the Changemaker Challenge by providing a judge and funding for the competition, where three Boys & Girls Clubs presented youth-led advocacy projects; in a surprise announcement, Five Below doubled the prize funding awarded to the participating Clubs.
As a sponsor of the Think, Learn Create Change model and the Summit for America’s Youth, Dollar Tree is equipping youth with the skills to become the next generation of leaders. By providing youth with advocacy training and experiences, Dollar Tree is empowering Boys & Girls Club youth to create meaningful change in their communities and develop durable skills like communication and leadership that will serve them after they leave the Club.
The Hershey Company has been a longtime partner in advancing youth advocacy and civic engagement through its support of the Think, Learn, Create Change (TLC) program and as a sponsor of the Summit for America’s Youth since its inception. This year, Hershey continued its commitment as an Advocate for Youth sponsor by providing a generous product donation and engaging participants in a speed mentoring session focused on career pathways, professional development, and leadership.
KPMG LLP and KPMG U.S. Foundation are committed to lifelong learning and equitable access to transformational learning opportunities for all. As a sponsor of SAY and supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Life & Workforce Readiness Strategy, they are also firmly focused on developing tomorrow’s business leaders, engaged citizens and communities – a cause that is more important today than ever before.
For more than 40 years, the NFL has been a proud partner and supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs. Since 2021, the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative has supported Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Think, Learn, Create Change (TLC) program that teaches youth how to utilize their voice and become advocates to create positive change in their communities.
The Andrew Carnegie Foundation is advancing Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s youth leadership and civic engagement efforts through a dedicated TLC cohort, youth-led town halls, advocacy days and service projects that equip young people with the skills, confidence and opportunities to lead with purpose and create meaningful change in their communities. The investment will expand civic learning and youth leadership across Clubs while helping to power Summit for America’s Youth, inspiring the next generation of engage and influential leaders.
While supporting young people through a variety of programs and initiatives, ALDI is making a targeted investment in TLC, helping Boys & Girls Clubs expand youth leadership and civic engagement opportunities. As part of this work, ALDI is prioritizing youth-led projects that address food security, empowering young people to take action on an issue that directly impacts the well-being of their families and neighborhoods while creating lasting change where they live.
Through the Code & Create Network, supported by Apple’s Community Education Initiative, Boys & Girls Clubs of America is expanding opportunities for young people to build creativity, coding, and communication skills using technology. At Summit for America’s Youth, Club teens participated in a hands-on digital storytelling workshop, using Apple technology to amplify their projects, share their stories, and inspire action on issues that matter most to them.
The Bezos Family Foundation is expanding opportunities for Native youth leadership and civic engagement through TLC+GROW, an initiative that elevates Native youth voice, leadership and advocacy within tribal communities and governments. By expanding access to culturally grounded out-of-school programs, civic learning experiences and leadership development opportunities, TLC+GROW empowers Native youth to lead with purpose and create lasting change in their communities.
Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders Through Service Programs
Recently, more than 2,000 teens from across the country gathered in Orlando for the Keystone Conference, the culminating event of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier teen leadership program, Keystone Club. Throughout the year, Keystone members develop leadership skills through service, civic engagement and youth-led initiatives, planning community projects, volunteering and inspiring others to take action. The annual conference celebrates their impact while equipping teens with new skills, connections and inspiration to continue leading in their Clubs and communities.
Through The Allstate Foundation’s Research-to-Impact Initiative, Boys & Girls Clubs of America is joining a national cohort of youth-serving organizations working to expand youth-led service opportunities. A $2 million investment from The Allstate Foundation will strengthen Keystone Club and Torch Club, enabling more young people to identify community needs, develop solutions and lead service projects that create positive change while building leadership, resilience and workforce readiness.
As a Silver Sponsor of the Keystone Conference, Five Below brings its signature spirit of fun and play to attendees through the sponsorship of the conference Game Room. A perennial favorite and one of the conference’s busiest attractions, the Game Room reflects Five Below’s commitment to creating joyful experiences for kids, families, and communities.
Hasbro is empowering youth leadership development through a growing cohort of Clubs participating in Dungeons & Dragons programming developed within its Wizards of the Coast division, with participating Clubs noting that the game provides a unique and inclusive experience for teens that helps build critical social-emotional, problem-solving, critical thinking, and math skills. This year, Hasbro is furthering its commitment to youth leadership as a sponsor of the Keystone National Conference, helping inspire and equip the next generation of leaders.
Together, these experiences help ensure more young people graduate with the confidence, compassion and leadership skills to strengthen their communities and inspire others.
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.
