Donation to support kids and teens with academics and education programming as the country continues recovery from COVID-19. This is the largest single-year corporate investment in academic and education programming for Boys & Girls Clubs of America through a historic partnership with Panda Cares® Foundation.
Press Release
Atlanta, GA– (June 29, 2021) – Boys & Girls Clubs of America has received its largest single-year donation of $8.785 million from the Panda Cares® Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Panda Express®, which will support the nonprofit’s mission of enabling and enriching the lives of young people. Through this partnership, Panda Cares and Boys & Girls Clubs of America will empower thousands of youth at Clubs across the country to excel in school, build strong character and develop key leadership skills.
“Panda’s partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America furthers our commitment to impact and inspire a brighter future through health and education, creating powerful learning pathways and focused care for the holistic well-being of youth nationwide,” said Dr. Peggy Cherng, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Panda Express. “This donation brings us one step closer to achieving our long-term vision of building strong communities and fostering the growth of our young leaders.”
The national partnership will build on Panda Cares mission to support children and families in underserved communities under the pillars of health and education. With a mutual commitment to helping more youth reach their full academic potential through learning initiatives tailored to fit the unique needs of each young learner, Panda Cares® contribution to local Boys & Girls Clubs will provide funding to more than 500 local Club locations offering high-quality in-person and virtual learning opportunities. The donation will also help pilot Panda Cares Centers of Hope, dedicated areas at local Boys & Girls Clubs that foster equity by delivering high-quality Club experiences that fuel the holistic needs of learning.
“As we look to COVID-19 recovery and the path forward, academic success and youth-centered learning is a critical priority. Through our partnership with Panda Cares Foundation, we can ensure Clubs and communities emerge from this crisis stronger than ever. We are excited to partner with Panda Cares to provide more high-quality programming that will help us to close the equity and opportunity gaps for kids and teens,” said Jim Clark, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
About Panda Express
On a mission to inspire better lives, Panda Express® is the largest Asian dining concept in the U.S. Family-owned and operated since 1983 by co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew and Peggy Cherng, Panda Express is best known as a trailblazer for creating a wide variety of industry-first recipes, including its best seller the Original Orange Chicken® and award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp™, which have defined the category of authentic American Chinese cuisine. Each dish at Panda Express, including the Wok Smart® selections, is thoughtfully crafted with quality ingredients and inspired by bold Chinese flavors and culinary principles. The restaurant brand has more than 2,200 locations and has introduced American Chinese cuisine to twelve international countries.
Powered by this global family of associates, Panda Cares®, the philanthropic arm of Panda Express, has raised more than $237 million and dedicated countless volunteer hours in bettering the health and education for over 12 million youths, as well as supporting communities in need since 1999. In 2020, the organization established the Panda Cares Scholars Program to provide the necessary funding, academic support and leadership development to help high school and college students learn, lead and thrive towards a bright future. For more information, visit pandaexpress.com or pandacares.org.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles. More than 4,700 Clubs serve over 4.6 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. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Facebook and Twitter.
Eliza Lynch
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
203-522-7010
elynch@bgca.org
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