Name of Your Sponsor
UBS Financial

Name of Your Nonprofit
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio

Tell us about your organization and why people should vote for you
The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio (BGCCO) is to enable young people to reach their full potential. Our vision is for all young people – regardless of their zip code or circumstances – to have the opportunity to achieve a great future.
Though much has changed since our organization was founded in 1948 as a single, stand-alone Club, our core mission has remained the same. Today, however, we have expanded our audience to include thousands of school-aged children of all genders and gender expressions as well as our geographic footprint to locations outside the City of Columbus. We have continued to deliver affordable year-round youth-development programs to the kids who need us via trusted, nurturing professional staff.
We charge $10 per child for our school-year program and an additional $100 for our full-day summer program. In comparison, it costs BGCCO $25 per day per child to operate ($6,250 per year); however, fees are never a barrier to membership.
Every donation to BGCCO ensures that we can continue to provide over 100,000 meals a year to 1200 members between the ages of 5-18, programming focused on Academic Success, Good Character & Leadership, Healthy Lifestyles, and Socio-Emotional Health. Proven programming and effective staff result in Club members reporting that they are more likely to graduate, to help those in need, and to participate in physical activity when compared nationally to their peers. It is also the reason 57% of youth who participate in our Clubs say that the Club saved their life.