DALLAS – September 21, 2015 – Junior League of Dallas (JLD), with the support of AT&T, is proud to announce a recent combined donation of $30,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas’ (BGCD) Collegiate STEPS Mentor program. The Collegiate STEPS Mentor program (Striving Toward Excellence Preparing for Success) is a yearlong college prep program offered through BGCD, in which staff and JLD volunteers meet with participating high school students in grades 9th through 12th twice a week to help mentor, guide and navigate the college admissions process.
Since 2005, the Junior League of Dallas has led Collegiate STEPS with a total of 264 volunteers and $108,864 in funding. Each year, volunteers not only help facilitators in the preparation and presentation of the sessions, but each are assigned a student to mentor. This provides the opportunity for one-on-one support for each student; where staff and volunteers can assist with college applications, essay writing, preparation for ACT/SAT tests, as well as the financial aid and scholarship process. Offerings also include goal-setting and financial literacy training.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with AT&T to further support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas’ Collegiate STEPS program. It is an honor to participate in this program each year, as our volunteers continue to build lifelong relationships with the students,” said Meredith Mosley, president of the Junior League of Dallas. “We ensure every donated dollar works its hardest to help those in Dallas who need it most and cannot think of a better way to spend our dollars than furthering the education of our city’s youth. Education is one of the League’s key issue areas, and we look forward to seeing the continued impact this program will have on the lives of these students.”
Graduating seniors who successfully complete the program are recognized at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas’ annual TOPPS (Threshold of Opportunities) Celebration, where students are presented with special awards and over the last 5 years we have had the opportunity to distribute annually more than $100,000 in scholarships. Throughout the evening, students share personal stories, and the graduating seniors are presented with a gift box filled with items they will need for college. For most of these students, they will be the first in their family to attend college thanks to grants and scholarships.
“We want to express our sincerest gratitude to the Junior League of Dallas and AT&T for their support of our Collegiate STEPS program this year. This program encourages students, who may not otherwise feel they have the resources both academically and financially to consider higher education, explore their interests and find the resources to pursue them,” said Charles English, CEO and president of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas. “Our goal is to increase the Dallas area high school graduation rate and prepare those students to enter college, join the military or enter the workforce with the academic, technical and soft skills to do so. It is thanks to the generous donations from AT&T and Junior League of Dallas, BGCD continues to reach more than 300 students in college preparedness each year.”
In 2015, AT&T also provided funding for BGCD’s A+ Certification program, an additional $25,000 for program funding and $10,000 for the Aspire Academy. Through United Way Campaign and Employee Giving Foundations, AT&T has given more than $70,000 in contributions and donations. Their committed employees volunteer at various Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas’ programs, such as summer Coding Camps, Day for Kids celebration, and job shadowing and mentoring.
“We are honored to work with the Junior League of Dallas to continue our support of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas,” said Holly Reed, Regional Vice President- External Affairs of AT&T. “A big part of helping students graduate and succeed is mentorship. More than one in three students at-risk of not graduating high school grows up without an adult mentor in their life. We are proud to support BGCD’s Collegiate STEPS program that aims to address this issue by providing high school students with mentorship and guidance to help better prepare them today for success tomorrow.”
“Investment in education and our students is key to broadening opportunities and helping to ensure our city, and our state, continue to flourish for many generations.” said State Representative Eric Johnson (D-Dallas). “I would like to commend the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas, AT&T and the Junior League of Dallas for their continued commitment to our students’ future, our education systems and our communities.”
ABOUT JUNIOR LEAGUE OF DALLAS
The Junior League of Dallas is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Founded in 1922, the Junior League of Dallas trains members for effective participation in the community and is dedicated to the belief that volunteer service is an essential part of responsible citizenship. Whether tutoring students, rocking infants, providing basic needs to families in crisis or serving on non-profit boards and coalitions, the 5,000 Junior League members provide more than 130,000 hours of community service each year, while making sure that each donated dollar works its hardest to help those in Dallas who need it most. Active members range in age from 22 to 49 and 74 percent are employed outside of the home. For more information, please visit www.jld.net.
ABOUT AT&T
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ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER DALLAS
In 2015, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas is celebrating 50 years of providing life-changing services for more than a quarter of a million youth in Dallas and surrounding areas. BGCD’s mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Programming in three core areas meets the diverse needs and interests of their 6,000 Club members. These core areas include: Academic Success, Good Character & Citizenship and Healthy Lifestyles. For more information, please visit www.bgcdallas.org.