BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA RECEIVES $5,000 BUILDING COMMUNITY FUND GRANT FROM PAPA JOHNS FOUNDATION
Tyrell Scott
Media & Marketing
Coordinator757-321-7078
tscott@bgcseva.org
www.bgcseva.org
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA RECEIVES $5,000 BUILDING COMMUNITY FUND GRANT FROM PAPA JOHNS FOUNDATION
Funding from this grant will go towards advancing programs and resources that focus on youth leadership, entrepreneurship and food insecurity.
VIRGINIA BEACH – APRIL 30TH, 2025 – Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia is excited to announce that it has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Papa John’s Foundation’s Building Community Fund. This funding will help assist with funding resources for our teens and Club members for programming and career exploration.
Since 1919, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia (BGCSEVA) have been a cornerstone for youth development in the region. Originally known as the Boys Club of Norfolk, BGCSEVA now operates nine Clubs in seven cities, serving children and teens ages 6 to 18. Through a variety of programs focused on academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles, BGCSEVA's mission is to "enable all young people, especially those that need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens." The recent Building Community Fund grant from the Papa John’s Foundation will enhance BGCSEVA's capacity to deliver several programs offered, including some such as Keystone, which trains youth in leadership and community service, and Career Launch, which prepares teens for the workforce through job readiness training and many other programs. This funding will support initiatives that focus on youth leadership, entrepreneurship, and addressing food insecurity, aligning with the Foundation's commitment to empowering young leaders and strengthening communities. By investing in these areas, the grant will enable BGCSEVA to expand its reach and deepen its impact, ensuring that more youth have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
The program was nominated by Papa John’s franchise Amanda Patneaude, who owns and operates Papa John’s restaurants in the Hampton Roads area. “Thanks to the generous support from the Papa John’s Foundation, we can offer more of our members the opportunity to participate in Career exploration and develop crucial leadership skills. Teens have been able to learn and experience new job opportunities thanks to funding, and they have had the opportunity to visit colleges and learn about what college is all about” said Aleshia Washington, Teen Programming Leader. One teen said this about the additional resources, “It helped me learn more about different careers and work towards potentially a new career choice.”
In 2021, the Papa John’s Foundation launched the Building Community Fund, which empowers U.S. franchise partners to support their communities by nominating local organizations addressing one or more of the Foundation’s focus areas – youth leadership and entrepreneurship, and food insecurity. The Papa John’s Foundation has invested more than $5 million in local franchise communities since launching the Building Community Fund in 2021.
“We are so excited to be a partner of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia. When we went through our grant nomination process for the PAPA JOHNS Foundation for Building Community, we really paid attention to what groups were locally making a HUGE impact in and around our community. Boys & Girls Clubs of SEVA is making a major difference in the lives of our local kids by building the next generation of leaders and helping them reach their full potential as productive, caring responsible individuals, through their various programs. It was a no-brainer, and we are excited to continue building community in the future.” Said Amanda Patneaude, Marketing Sales Manager.
Since 2021, Boys & Girls Clubs of America have been awarded over 120 grants to support local Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide with the funding total of over $882,500. The support from the Papa John’s Foundation’s Building Community Fund will make a significant impact on the future of Boys & Girls Clubs which currently serves over 3 million youth across the globe, empowering them to become leaders who will contribute to the long-term success and growth of their communities.
For more information about the Papa John’s Foundation’s partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and its commitment to youth and community development, visit our partnership page.
ABOUT PAPA JOHNS
Papa John’s Foundation supports U.S.-based organizations focused on youth leadership & entrepreneurship and food insecurity. Since launching in 2019, the foundation has invested $13.7 million in nonprofit organizations serving local communities.
ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia (BGCSEVA) provides structured youth development programs for youth ages 6-18 after school and during summer weekdays. We provide a safe and fun place for youth and teens to learn, grow, and be exposed to nationally provided, dynamic youth development programs that teach our Club members to be great citizens now and in the future. All our Boys & Girls Club programs are centered on implementing the Boys & Girls Clubs Formula for Impact. This formula consists of serving the young people who need us most with an outcome-driven Club experience of high-yield activities and regular attendance. Our Club members will achieve three priority outcomes: Academic Success, Good Character and Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles.
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