Emotional/Social - Change Agents

The Boys & Girls Club is where I looked for hope, purpose and direction. Club staff taught me right from wrong and made the lesson stick. They planted the seeds early on that led me to envision myself as a high school graduate, a college graduate and as an achiever in whatever field I chose. That's where I learned to dream - and to think big.

~ Denzel Washington ~
Two-time Academy Award Winning Actor

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Change Agent: Emotional / Social

Boys & Girl’s Club

Bill Cosby… Michael Jordan… Brad Pitt… President Bill Clinton… Jackie Joyner-Kersee… Martin Sheen… Shaquille O’Neal… Denzel Washington… Jennifer Lopez. What do all of these people and millions more throughout America have in common? They are all alumni of Boys & Girls Clubs (http://www.begreatamerica.org)

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (http://www.bgca.org) has helped kids “Be Great”, providing hope and opportunity for those who need it most. Today, more than 4,300 Clubs serve some 4.5 million young people through Club membership and community outreach.

Known as The Positive Place for Kids, Boys & Girls Clubs can be found throughout the country and on U.S. military bases worldwide, providing young people 6-18 years old with guidance-oriented character development programs conducted by trained, professional staff. Clubs positively impact lives and help young people reach their full potential as productive, caring citizens. Key programs emphasize leadership development; education and career exploration; community service; technology training; financial literacy; health and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and family outreach. In a recent Harris Survey of Club alumni 57 percent said the Club saved their lives.

Casey Family Programs

Casey Family Programs (www.casey.org) improves foster care. The latest: By 2020 Casey has set an ambitious yet attainable goal to safely reduce the number of children in foster care – and improve the lives of those who remain in care.

www.ChangeThis.com

www.changethis.com A site for the exchange of ideas on how to tackle the world’s problems.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

www.davethomasfoundation.org brings attention to the 150,000 children and teens on foster care who are hoping to find their forever families.

Click here to download an interactive PSA.

Foster Care 411

Foster Care 411: A Youth’s Guide to Foster Care

Foster Care 411: A Youth’s Guide to Foster Care is designed to give young people the answers they need to better understand foster care and take charge of their lives. It includes:

  • Questions and answers about foster care
  • Definitions of foster care terminology
  • “Foster to Famous” stories about famous people who have experienced foster care
  • Resources to help advocate for your rights
  • Foster Club is a national network for young people in foster care and young foster care alumni.

Gift For A child 

(www.giftforachild.org) advocates for the 500,000 children in foster care in the United States.