Boys & Girls Clubs of America and The National Guard Youth Foundation Partner to Provide Youth Empowerment Resources to Cadets and Graduates of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the National Guard Youth Foundation announce a national partnership that will provide services to teens who are finding their way back to graduation. Through each of the 35 National Guard Youth ChalleNGe programs across the country, this partnership will empower teens to be prepared for continued education, the skilled workforce and a thriving adulthood.

"Many of these young men and women have gotten off track somewhere in their lives but they have found a pathway back through the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program and are eager to explore every possibility to become contributing and active citizens," said Louis A. Cabrera, National Guard Youth Foundation President. "It is our mission to help these young men and women to find a pathway to success beyond their graduation day and, as the largest youth serving organization, Boys & Girls Clubs of America will open many doors to help these young men and women reach their full potential. Boys & Girls Clubs of America has provided resources and services to ChalleNGe in the past, and we are excited to formalize this national partnership to continue providing these critical services to all who participate in the program."

Serving the needs of 9,000 ChalleNGe participants annually, the partnership will provide an array of youth development services, including:

• Financial literacy, responsibility and independence programs;
• Career education and exploration courses;
• Beginner, intermediate and advanced skills training in English or Spanish for various Microsoft software programs, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher and Digital Image Pro; and
• Mentorship and volunteer opportunities.

"Making sure all young people are prepared for the future is the critical focus of our mission at Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide," said Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Partnerships between youth development organizations like the National Guard Youth Foundation will give teens, especially those who need us most, access to quality programs and innovative learning experiences in their local community keeping them on track to graduation and on the path to a great future."

The goal of this partnership is to offer a variety of services and programs to youth to help relieve the stress of life situations, strengthen the bond between the youth and the civilian community, and expose the youth to educational and workforce development opportunities.

About the National Guard Youth Foundation
The National Guard Youth Foundation is a nonprofit that is dedicated to addressing the nation's dropout crisis by giving youth a second chance through the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program, a proven program that helps 9,000 youth each year improve their life skills, educational attainment and employability. The Foundation relies on strategic partnerships with companies and organizations to be able to provide direct support to ChalleNGe participants and graduates in the form of scholarships, training and workforce transition assistance. These partnerships also help the Foundation in its efforts to expand ChalleNGe so it is available to more youth who need it. Together, the National Guard Youth Foundation, the ChalleNGe program and its partners are changing the lives of thousands of young men and women every year by providing them with a pathway to a second chance and helping them continue on their path of success well beyond graduation day. For more information, please visit www.ngyf.org.

About the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program
Conducted at 35 academies across the country, the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program is operated in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Defense, National Guard Bureau, state governments and local sites. The program consists of a 5 1/2-month residential phase framed around eight core components: academic excellence, responsible citizenship, physical fitness, leadership/followership, job skills, service to the community, health and hygiene and life coping skills, and a 12-month post residential phase during which mentors continue to provide guidance and support to graduates.

Helping more than 130,000 teens to date turn their lives around, ChalleNGe is recognized as among the most cost-effective, highly rated programs of its kind for youth who have dropped out of school.

• An independent, multi-year study of the program by MDRC shows that high school diploma/ GED attainment increased by 29%; college attendance increased by 86% and annual earnings increased by 20%.
• An independent cost-benefit analysis by the RAND Corporation shows a 166% return on investment in the program – every dollar spent yielded a return of $2.66 in benefits to society.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
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 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native 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, 57 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.

SOURCE National Guard Youth Foundation