Boys & Girls Club of Manhattan - 2024
In the past year alone, the Club served 1,179 youth across its programs. The organization saw tremendous success in supporting students’ mental health and overall well-being through the implementation of Second Step, a comprehensive, research-based social-emotional curriculum. With help from the YES! Fund, the Boys & Girls Club continues to expand program participation and strengthen outcomes, delivering high-quality opportunities while keeping membership rates affordable so that every young person who wants to join has the chance to do so.
One of the most impactful stories from this past school year involved a young boy who had recently transitioned to a new foster family. He began attending a YES! Fund supported before-and-after-school program at a local elementary school in Manhattan. Initially, he struggled with physical aggression, verbal outbursts, and difficulty connecting with peers and staff. As the Boys & Girls Club began implementing the Second Step curriculum—part of an organization-wide effort to address rising mental health challenges—he began to show significant progress. By the end of the school year, he had made remarkable behavioral improvements and felt a strong sense of belonging.
When asked how he felt about his experience, he shared, “Second Step small group makes me feel happy. Boys & Girls Club makes me feel happy. My favorite thing is programs and going outside, especially because we have the big slides.”
Without the support of the YES! Fund This young Manhattan foster child might not have had the opportunity to participate in a safe, welcoming program that helped him feel connected, inspired, and most importantly, happy.
