2021 Community Impact Report

MOMENTS

Spring in our region brings a time of great renewal, hope, and opportunity. We are lucky to live in a locale that hosts 4 distinct seasons with a rhythm and a cadence signaling the expectation of great things to come. At Boys & Girls Clubs of SWVA, spring signals the push towards the end of the school year. Students are preparing for the final 9 weeks, SOL tests are on the horizon, and graduations are being planned. Our goal this time of year is to ensure that every youth who needs us has access to tutors, mentors, and the trusted adult support that will help get them to the finish line. that matter

A McKinsey study has reported that students nationally are 6-8 months behind in learning due to the interruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. This number grows for students who are living in poverty. “All told, we estimate that the average K–12 student in the United States could lose $61,000 to $82,000 in lifetime earnings (in constant 2020 dollars), or the equivalent of a year of full-time work, solely as a result of COVID-19– related learning losses. These costs are significant.” The hard truth is that the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the futures of this generation’s schoolchildren may not be truly realized for years to come. At Boys & Girls Clubs of SWVA, we are committed to ensuring that the kids who need us most aren’t left even further behind, or worse, forgotten. With your support, we can continue to serve our youth who need us most and work to minimize the correlation between income level and learning loss. Your partnership enables us to make summer not only fun, but practical, helping youth catch up academically and socially. Your belief in the value of our youth and the importance of our investment in them creates the opportunities our youth need to not only survive, but to thrive.

Thank you for your belief in us, and your belief in our kids. Your partnership is critical to achieving our mission!

Serving Youth,

Michelle Davis, CEO Boys & Girls Clubs of SWVA

Dorn et al. “COVID-19 and student learning in the United States: The hurt could last a lifetime.” McKinsey & Company, 1 June 2020, https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/education/our-insights/covid-19-and-student-learning-in-the-united-states-the-hurt-could-last-a-lifetime.