Campaign partner commits to donating more than $10 million by 2020
ATLANTA, April 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is excited to announce they are expanding their partnership with Buffalo Wild Wings® through 2020. Buffalo Wild Wings is pledging to donate more than $10 million to help local Clubs provide valuable sports-based experiences that promote physical fitness, teamwork and good sportsmanship in Clubs across the country.
The commitment is in addition to the $6.5 million Buffalo Wild Wings has donated to BGCA through corporate donations and in-restaurant fundraising programs since the inception of it signature program, Team Up for Kids®, in 2013. As part of the expanded partnership with BGCA, Buffalo Wild Wings will further its mission to create and improve ALL STARS sports programs at Clubs and expose more kids and teens to the benefits of participating in team sports and belonging to a team.
The grants will provide funding for team jerseys, equipment, and tools and resources from the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) which provides education and training programs for administrators and volunteer coaches to use across all team sports programs. Funding to improve Club’s sports facilities is also available.
Emily Decker, Senior Vice-President, General Counsel stated, “Buffalo Wild Wings is committed to giving back to the communities we serve. We’re pleased to extend our partnership with BGCA through 2020 to support our mission of building communities where all kids and teens can thrive, compete, and belong to a team. This long-term commitment will provide the opportunity for more than 450,000 kids and teens to play team sports. We invite our Guests to join our effort and dine-in or takeout at participating Buffalo Wild Wings across the country on Wednesday, April 13 for our annual Community Day, and we will donate 10% of sales back to local Boys & Girls Clubs.
In alignment with BGCA’s health and wellness initiative, the ALL STARS football leagues, basketball leagues and cheer teams help motivate Club kids and teens to get active and equips them with the life skills and confidence needed to achieve greatness on and off the field.
In 2015 alone, Buffalo Wild Wings helped more than 58,000 kids in 150 Boys & Girls Clubs feel a sense of belonging through the ALL STARS program.
Recognizing the need to provide girls with opportunities to participate beyond the sidelines, staff at Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi launched an all-girls flag football team. Over the course of the six week program, the coaches witnessed these young female athletes grow physically, mentally, socially and emotionally. Through their ALL STARS flag football experience, the girls gained a heighten sense of awareness, developed lasting friendships and walked away with a true understanding of the concept of “girl power.”
“Our Clubs work to provide interactive learning experiences, like the ALL STARS leagues to help youth build character, teach the importance of inclusion and challenge them to work as a team,” said Jennifer Bateman, National Vice President of Program, Training and Youth Development with BGCA. “With the support of ALL STARS and Team Up for Kids grants we are impacting thousands of Club kids and teens each year through team sports.”
ABOUT BUFFALO WILD WINGS’ TEAM UP FOR KIDS™ (www.buffalowildwings.com/giving)
Buffalo Wild Wings’ charitable giving program – TEAM UP FOR KIDS™ – centers on the mission: There is a champion in every child. We are committed to helping build communities where all kids can thrive, compete, and belong to a team. As part of this mission, Buffalo Wild Wings has teamed up with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to help thousands of kids play on sports teams each year. Buffalo Wild Wings is committed to donating and raising at least $16 million for BGCA by 2020. Guests can join the effort through donations from sauce and seasoning bottle purchases and in-restaurant fundraising events.
ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA (www.bgca.org)
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,000 Clubs serve some four million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native American lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.
