Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston (BGCB) celebrates our volunteers with love and gratitude for the time they generously give to our youth, families, and communities. Whether helping with homework, shooting hoops in the gym, or supporting youth as strengthen their public speaking skills, volunteers make a generational impact that creates a better tomorrow for Boston and Chelsea.
This week, we are excited to feature a different volunteer every day and celebrate their impact on BGCB. To all of our volunteers—thank you for choosing to walk through our Club doors with the intention to be nothing short of your best. Thank you for greeting members by name as they walk through the Club doors each day. Thank you for your consistency, your time, and for your contributions to Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston.
Boston Scientific: Longtime corporate partner
Describe Boston Scientific’s impact on the Club, members, staff, and community.
Boston Scientific has been partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston (BGCB) in a variety of capacities over the years, with a continued focus on employee engagement all in an effort to benefit Boston and Chelsea’s youth. Most recently, Boston Scientific and BGCB collaborated to bring their social justice and racial equity initiative to members and their community. Specifically, Boston Scientific lent their time, talent, and resources to engage members through experiential learning to provide our youth with a voice to advocate for racial equity and justice.
As part of this initiative, Boston Scientific volunteers facilitated virtual book readings of “I Believe I Can” and “I am Enough” by Grace Byers with three of our Clubs. These books’ main characters are youth of color, and include sentiments such as “I know I can do anything, if only I believe I can.” In the two readings, members saw examples of Black youth demonstrating confidence and being unafraid to make mistakes in life. Additionally, members got to learn from Boston Scientific volunteers about a Black female author.
After reading the books aloud over Zoom, volunteers asked participating Club members about their skills, talents, and what makes them feel confident. Members remained engaged throughout the sessions, and asked the volunteers thoughtful questions.
As part of the virtual book readings, Boston Scientific also earmarked funds for BGCB to identify and purchase culturally relevant and diverse books for our nine Clubs. With this generous grant, Clubs across Boston and Chelsea can continue to foster meaningful dialogue around race, equity, and self-confidence.
How has Boston Scientific advanced the mission of BGCB?
Boston Scientific consistently puts the needs of our members and families first, from chairing BGCB’s Annual Dinner in 2020 to continuing to provide critical resources and support during the pandemic. The commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that Boston Scientific demonstrates aligns with BGCB’s mission and core values, which altogether contributes to Boston Scientific being an outstanding partner.
EY: Longtime corporate partner
Describe EY’s impact on the Club, members, staff, and community.
EY has been an integral partner for BGCB’s workforce readiness program, Ready to Work (RTW), creating meaningful curriculum and engagement opportunities for Fellows enrolled in the initiative. This includes engagement activities centered around workforce skill development, public speaking, job shadow opportunities, interview prep and participation in the RTW Speaker Series.
EY effectively adapted and executed a virtual model for delivering impactful engagement opportunities for our RTW Fellows. Without their involvement and thoughtful, collaborative approach, some of these skill building opportunities, specifically around public speaking, would not have been made possible for our members.
In 2021, EY launched “Pitch Your Passion” with RTW Fellows. Pitch Your Passion is a three-session program developed by EY in collaboration with BGCB to give Fellows the resources to continue to improve their public speaking skills in a comfortable space with trusted professionals. EY volunteers developed the topic of the speeches, connected with the Fellows prior to the presentation session to provide advice and quell nerves, and then listened intently as Fellows gave their speeches in small breakout rooms and provided feedback. EY’s intentional development of a three-session program allowed for developing trust between Fellows and EY employees along with building confidence in our Fellows as they saw themselves improve from one session to the next.
Throughout the course of the year, EY volunteers also participated in mock interviews with our Fellows and engaged in meaningful conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion, resulting in a DEI blog which Fellows and EY employees collaborated on together.
BGCB is grateful to EY for their continued thoughtful approach to engaging with our members, and for their focus on understanding BGCB’s needs and how they can lend their time and talents to have a long-lasting impact.
How has EY advanced the mission of BGCB?
BGCB aims to “help young people realize their full potential as responsible citizens and leaders.” EY has promoted a sense of personal satisfaction amongst the members by providing the members opportunity to exercise their communication skills and gain confidence to do so in personal and professional settings.
Andy O’Hearn: Charlestown Club volunteer since 2012
Describe Andy’s impact on the Club, members, staff, and community.
Andy volunteers in our Club library assisting first through seventh grade members with their homework. Andy has a big impact on the Club, members, staff, and community. He was born and raised in Charlestown and grew up spending his days as a member of the Charlestown Club. Andy enjoys reflecting on his time as a member and has countless stories of his Club member days that he so proudly shares with today’s members. Andy brings a positive and welcoming environment for the kids to work in.
How has Andy advanced the mission of BGCB?
Whenever Andy works with the members, he encourages them to meet their full potential. On numerous occasions we have witnessed members trying to just finish their homework quickly, but he takes it upon himself to further their learning and encourage them to complete their assignments with excellency.
How does Andy stand out from other volunteers?
Andy maneuvers through any challenge presented in the library and takes pride in his work. He is a veteran of the Marine Corps and a retired firefighter who gives back to the community and compliments whatever place he is in with his kindness and determination, all of which makes him a great leader within the Club, community, and any space he is in.
Craig Smith: Yawkey Club of Roxbury volunteer since 2012
Describe Craig’s impact on the Club, members, staff, and community.
Craig Smith serves as a leader and youth mentor, partnering with several organizations to introduce Club members to a wide variety of sports. Craig oversees the Manny Wilson Educational Basketball program, named for a Boston Housing Association police officer killed in the line of duty.
For more than 25 years, the Manny Wilson basketball league has taught the fundaments of basketball: dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding, sportsmanship, and teamwork. Sports can teach youth basic life skills that transfer into the classroom and throughout life. Craig plays a role in promoting healthy habits, a place of belonging and the opportunity for growth through basketball.
Craig is a true team member who assists with all aspects of what makes this program a success, from recruiting coaches to organizing an end of program banquet to celebrate all participants. Through a program orientation, he keeps parents informed, involved, and maintains the essence of community through encouraging volunteer participation of residents.
How has Craig advanced the mission of BGCB?
For 10 years, Craig has encouraged young people to pursue excellence in academics and service while participating in Club sports. A quiet and humble individual, Craig’s peers say he “shines bright behind the scenes,” and makes a positive impact on every young person he encounters, serving as a mentor who betters the lives of others.
Describe what makes Craig stand out from other volunteers.
Craig’s passion and commitment to helping others is widely recognized throughout the Club and the community. Not only does he encourage youth of all ages to dream big, he shows them how their dreams can become a reality with the right mindset and approach.
Jody Baum: Charlestown volunteer since 2017
What’s your favorite BGCB moment as a volunteer?
My favorite memories of volunteering at BGCB are of seeing the joy on kids’ faces when they overcome a homework challenge, the satisfaction in knowing they get it, and their desire to learn more.
If you had a superpower that couldn’t help anyone, what would it be?
It would be the ability to travel backward and forward through time.
What’s the best piece of advice someone has given you?
Always be kind, always do my best, work hard, and make the world a better place. That advice was given to me by my parents.
