Grant Stories

At the heart of the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh’s mission is a commitment to fostering the potential of every young person who walks through its doors. One of the standout initiatives that embodies this mission is the Workforce Development program, designed to introduce youth to possible career paths and post-high school opportunities, including continued education. This initiative aims to prepare teens for a future where they can become self-sufficient and contributing members of society.

Last year, the Workforce Development program made significant strides. Approximately 70 teens were engaged in workforce development activities, which included career and college tours throughout the year. These tours provided firsthand insights into six colleges across Wisconsin and four local businesses, offering valuable exposure to various professional environments and educational institutions. The Club’s Be Great Graduate Program also played a crucial role, serving 64 teens with academic and behavioral support to ensure they graduated on time. The results speak for themselves: in 2023, 90% of the Club’s graduating seniors had post-graduation plans, and every member of the Be Great Graduate Program attended at least one college or career tour.

The impact of the Workforce Development program extends beyond academic and career readiness. The Keystone Leadership Club, comprising about six dedicated members, completed over 300 hours of volunteering. This hands-on experience was instrumental in building their leadership, communication, and teamwork skills, further preparing them for future challenges and opportunities.

A key factor in the success and expansion of these programs has been the support from the Donald Hansen Fund within your Community Foundation. The fund’s generous grant was directed towards equipping the Teen Center, providing the necessary resources and spaces needed to enhance and expand the program’s offerings. The new Teen Center now boasts dedicated classrooms, allowing the Club to deliver more in-house programming tailored to teens’ needs.

These spaces are pivotal for running specialized programs that cover essential topics such as money management, resume preparation, interviewing skills, applying for FAFSA, and other workforce readiness skills. The Club continues to leverage its existing community relationships and actively seeks to establish new partnerships, ensuring that teens have access to a wide range of resources and expertise.

The Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh’s Workforce Development program, supported by the Donald Hansen Fund, is not just preparing teens for their futures; it is empowering them to envision and build brighter, more promising futures. By providing the skills and opportunities they need, we are setting up our youth to thrive and succeed in whatever paths they choose. Together, we are making a lasting impact on the lives of these young individuals and, by extension, on our community.