Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland receives $2,500 Grant from BJ’s Charitable Foundation to benefit Academic Success Programs

Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland has received a $2,500 grant from BJ’s Charitable Foundation to help purchase supplies of books and workbooks for its Academic Success Programs.

“We are grateful to the foundation for providing the type of resources needed to ensure academic success for our kids. This kind of support is important,” BGCC President Ron Soeder said.

Through the Academic Success Programs, the Boys & Girls Club aims to increase graduation rates, decrease school absenteeism and encourage kids to create post-secondary goals by teaching basic educational disciplines, technology and the arts. Programs include Power Hour, an after-school study session, Degrees 2 Diplomas, a college readiness effort and Career Launch.  The arts program includes music, ballet, painting, graphic arts and performing arts.

In 2014, 93 percent of BGCC’s regularly attending seniors graduated from high school.

“The BJ’s Charitable Foundation is dedicated to supporting nonprofits like the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland that focus on enhancing educational excellence in our local communities,” said Chris Hylton, general manager of the BJ’s Wholesale Club in Warrensville Heights. “We praise the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland for helping children develop strong educational disciplines to ensure a bright academic future.”

As part of its quarterly grant cycle, BJ’s Charitable Foundation distributed donations totaling nearly $250,000 among 70 nonprofits including Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland to help improve the lives of those in need across its 15-state footprint.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Clevelend

Founded in 1954, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland serves more than 8,000 youths in Cleveland’s inner-city neighborhoods, Cleveland Heights and East Cleveland. The Clubs provide a safe place for children to learn and grow, to develop ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals, to engage in life-enhancing programs and to create a culture of hope and opportunity. BGCC’s mission is to inspire and enable young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

About BJ’s Charitable Foundation

BJ’s Charitable Foundation was established with the mission to enrich every community BJ’s Wholesale Clubs serve. The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that primarily benefit the underprivileged in the areas of hunger prevention and education. For more information about BJ’s Charitable Foundation, please visit, www.bjs.com/charity.