Press Release

ATLANTA – March, 18, 2019 – Boys & Girls Clubs of America announced today that the SunTrust Foundation has committed $1 million to Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Workforce Development Effectiveness Project to help put youth on a path toward financial confidence and well-being. Stan Little, SunTrust Foundation president, presented Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, with the donation at a special event last Friday at The Salvation Army Bellwood Boys & Girls Club in Atlanta.

Globally, employers are faced with a talent shortage. In particular, U.S. employers say that the inability to find qualified workers is their biggest obstacle to growth, with 44 percent saying their greatest needs are in the area of soft skills (e.g., communication, customer service, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking). A new initiative from Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Workforce Development Effectiveness Project, was created to provide youth with the knowledge, skills and experiences to better prepare them for the workforce, thus improving their socio-economic potential over their lifetime.

“At Boys & Girls Clubs, we want to provide a safe space for kids and teens to not only have fun but also to reach their full potential by providing opportunities to learn and gain new skills so that they are workforce ready,” said Clark. “We are so grateful to have the SunTrust Foundation as a new partner. With this grant, more Clubs will have a solid workforce development plan that will help them prepare our youth for life after graduation.”  

To develop this plan, Clubs will go through a series of intense, project-based learning experiences. This includes assessing their current workforce programming, participating in trainings that focus on strategic organizational planning, drafting goals, creating action plans, and presenting a story of their workforce program implementation and lessons learned to a panel of judges.

“The SunTrust Foundation is committed to partnering with nonprofit organizations that support innovative programs focused on workforce development,” said Little. “The Boys and Girls Clubs Workforce Development Effectiveness Project will empower our youth to create a sustainable future for themselves.”

The first year of this program kicks off this month with Clubs in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee. To learn more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the SunTrust Foundation partnership and Workforce Development Effectiveness Project, visit www.bgca.org/SunTrust.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, 4,300 Clubs serve 4 million young people 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 and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote 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 Facebook and Twitter.

About SunTrust Foundation
The SunTrust Foundation is committed to SunTrust Bank’s (NYSE: STI) purpose of Lighting the Way to Financial Well-Being by engaging with local and national organizations to advance financial confidence. Grants and activities focus primarily on financial education, financial counseling, career readiness and small business/entrepreneurship, in addition to local community grants. The SunTrust Foundation supports American Red Cross disaster relief efforts and contributes as a United Way Global Corporate Leader. Established in 2008, the SunTrust Foundation has proudly provided grants totaling more than $160 million throughout the United States. 

Media Contacts

Ashley Keyes
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
404-487-5466
akeyes@bgca.org

Audria Belton
SunTrust Foundation
404-813-3664
audria.belton@suntrust.com