Guest post: Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco and Twitter join forces for kids

Friday, 9 May 2014

Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco (@BGCSF) is thrilled to be partnering with Twitter to bring positive change to at-risk youth in the Tenderloin and across the city. BGCSF provides high-quality programs that support youth to be “ready for life” at age 18. In the weeks since our multi-prong collaboration was finalized, Twitter has already jumped in to make a difference.

Thanks to their generous donation, our old, unreliable computers at our Tenderloin Clubhouse have been replaced with newer laptops, allowing teens to efficiently complete homework, learn internet safety, apply for jobs and complete college applications. In addition, Twitter is sponsoring 15 young people from our Tenderloin Clubhouse to attend 10-day sessions at Camp Mendocino, our 2,000-acre residential summer camp. They’ll be able to count on three healthy meals a day and experience fun and enriching activities — like swimming, horseback riding and nature hikes.

As we write this, we’re preparing for our Annual Gala, to be held tonight at the Palace Hotel. We’re grateful that Twitter is serving as a sponsor. It’s a great chance to publically recognize Twitter’s support and investment in the young people who need us the most.

We’re also excited about what’s to come. Twitter employees — some of whom have already volunteered with our youth — will have opportunities to engage on a deeper level by volunteering at a local Clubhouse, tutoring youth and attending career exposure events with our teens.

Thank you to Twitter and the many employees who will help us accomplish our work of leveling the playing field for at-risk youth in San Francisco!

For more information about BGCSF, visit www.kidsclub.org. Part of the community since 1891, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco currently serves more than 1,400 youth (ages 6-18) per day. We have more than 6,300 active members and serve more than 17,000 youth per year at 12 program sites — including Clubhouses located in the neighborhoods with the fewest resources, high school sites and Camp Mendocino. We are open “when kids need us most” — after school, on most school holidays and during the summer. We offer safe places where young people can learn, grow and succeed.