OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
We have learned alongside our Community Partners as they have faced challenges, overcome barriers, and achieved extraordinary successes. Find out more about each project and the outcomes below.
YEAR
2012
GRANT CATEGORY
Health & Well-Being
GRANT AMOUNT
$103,600
Organization:
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area
Project Title:
Be Proud: Transforming Health Education for Austin’s Teens
Project Description:
Since 1967, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area (BGCAA) has provided children from 6 to 18 a safe place to connect with adult role models. Here children with limited economic circumstances explore individual abilities, and develop relationships with positive role models. The staff supports a positive peer environment where children learn skills to help them to grow into healthy, responsible, caring adults. Ninety percent of children who participate graduate high school with a better chance at a successful life.
Impact Austin’s grant supports the Be Proud program, which is aimed at addressing the high rate of teen pregnancy through education and empowerment. BGCAA will reach 2,000 economically disadvantaged youth who are at high risk for premature sexual activity, through participation in a voluntary, age-appropriate, evidence-based prevention program held weekly at BGCAA's clubs serving 6th-12th graders. Youth who attend the program will be more empowered to make responsible choices.
Grant Status:
While this program initially sought to serve 6th through 12th graders, this coverage was extended to include 4th and 5th graders, given the rise in younger students participating in sexual activity.
BGCAA surpassed the goal of reaching 2,000 students, with more than 2,300 youth participating in classes during 2012-2013.
Feedback from this program was very positive, with students, families and staff taking an active role in promoting the program’s message to reduce the number of teen pregnancies.
Youth who attended the program are now more empowered to make responsible choices, thanks to the increased knowledge in all areas for preventing teen pregnancies. The impact of this grant will continue to be felt in the years ahead, given the grant’s training component, which allows the knowledge to be passed on within the organization.
As a result of this funding, BGCAA was able to develop family workshops, which have enabled the organization to communicate its message at all levels.