Dear Friends,
Every generation faces a choice: to accept the future as it comes or to help shape it. At Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, we have chosen to build it.
We believe every young person deserves more than a safe place after school. They deserve opportunities that broaden their horizons, relationships that build confidence, and experiences that help them discover who they are and who they can become. When we invest in young people, we invest in the future of our communities.
As I reflect on this remarkable year, I am deeply grateful for the legacy entrusted to me and for the people who make this work possible. Every day I witness the resilience of our youth, the dedication of our staff, the trust of our families, and the generosity of our volunteers, donors, partners, and community champions. Every milestone belongs to all of you, because none of it happens alone.
Together, we strengthened our organization from the inside out while expanding opportunities in literacy, workforce readiness, career exploration, leadership development, health and wellness, and academic success. We deepened partnerships, expanded more scholarships, broadened our reach across Southern Maine, and positioned our organization to serve more young people in more meaningful ways.
Our vision remains both simple and ambitious: to ensure every young person has the opportunity to dream boldly, no matter where they begin. That commitment means reaching more kids, investing deeply in their growth, and walking alongside them through every stage of their journey. Every additional child we serve represents another life strengthened, another family supported, and another opportunity to build a stronger Southern Maine.
As you read the stories and accomplishments throughout this report, I hope you see what I see every day: a community choosing to believe in its young people. Whether you have given your time, shared your expertise, made a financial investment, partnered with us, or simply championed our mission, you have helped create opportunities that will change lives for generations. Thank you for believing that every young person deserves the chance to reach their full potential.
The future isn't something we inherit - it's something we build, one young person, one opportunity, and one relationship at a time.
Thank you for shaping the future with us.
Stronger Kids. Stronger Communities.
At Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, every program we offer is built around one goal: helping young people discover who they are and who they can become. Across six pillars — Academics, Workforce Readiness, Fine Arts, Youth Leadership, Health & Wellness, and Recreation — our 2,835 members are gaining the skills, confidence, and support they need to thrive today and build a brighter tomorrow. Explore the impact your partnership makes possible.
Arts
Leadership
Academic
Workforce Readiness
Sports & Recreation
Health & Wellness
CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES
Every Club Kid deserves a plan for their future.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine is committed to ensuring that every member graduates from high school on time and with a plan for their future, so they step into the world as confident, self-sufficient, and engaged adults. Reaching this milestone takes consistent support, encouragement, and resources — and your partnership helps make it possible, opening the door to higher education, steady employment, and greater lifetime earning potential.
By the Numbers
95%
of members are on track to graduate high school on time
87%
of members plan to attend a four-year university
127
Elementary members joined Brain Gain, with 90% maintaining or improving their reading level.
66
Auburn piloted STEM Makerspace kits for 30 first- through sixth-graders across five skill levels.
Real Impact, Real Kids
Hands-on learning is giving Club members new ways to explore, experiment, and discover what they can do. In our new STEM Makerspace pilot in Auburn, member Arthur spent two weeks building a K'Nex turtle from scratch — a milestone moment of perseverance and pride. But true to the spirit of the program, his curiosity didn't stop at the finish line: minutes after his victory photo, he was already re-engineering his design to add wheels and turn his turtle into a "turtle mobile." Through hands-on STEM programming, kids like Arthur aren't just building projects — they're building resilience, confidence, and the mindset of a lifelong innovator.
Preparing teens for what comes next.
Reaching graduation is only part of the journey — Club Kids also need the tools to make informed, confident decisions about what comes after. Through Bridge to Success, we help break down the barriers many teens experience to college and career pathways, so they step into adulthood ready for whatever path they choose.
234
participants across all Bridge to Success programs
150+
teens engaged through monthly post-graduation events
87
participants logged 293 TransfrVR hours, exploring 994 careers led by nursing, surgical technology, and truck driving.
37
scholarships awarded, totaling $124,500
23
field trips and events, including 12 college visits
Real Impact, Real Kids
We completed another successful year of Bridge to Success, our comprehensive approach to breaking down the barriers that many teens face in accessing college and career pathways. We engaged more than 150 teens through a range of post-graduation options, empowering them to make informed decisions about college, careers, and life.
Take Yaba, for example. As he prepares to begin his senior year at Portland High School, he's gained real-world experience through our Career Ready program, mentoring younger members while learning essential workplace skills — completing hiring paperwork, managing a bank account, using a debit card, and reporting to a supervisor. These hands-on experiences are building the confidence and practical knowledge he'll need for life after graduation, turning a diploma into a true launchpad for the future.
Last year, we expanded our program to include middle schoolers, a critical time in youth development. Middle schooler Mimi is a great example of that early impact — through our Job Lens initiative, she shadows Club staff and supports our elementary-aged members, developing vital leadership and workplace skills. Her journey shows how early career exposure empowers young people to discover their strengths, build job readiness, and make a meaningful impact right in their own Club community.
60
middle schoolers explored financial literacy, college funding, resumes, and career planning—many for the first time.
Every child deserves the chance to discover what they love.
Exploring self-expression and creativity is critical to youth development, yet many of our members don't have access to private music lessons or community arts groups. Through Club and community partnerships, we give kids quality artistic experiences that build cultural awareness, strengthen visual learning, develop confidence in decision-making, and improve language and fine motor skills.
By the Numbers
373
pieces submitted to our Annual Art Show
20
20 pieces sold, supporting young artists and their craft
1
year of weekly professional dance instruction through our partnership with Portland Youth Dance
Real Impact, Real Kids
Thanks to our partnership with Portland Youth Dance, Club members spent the year discovering a new passion through weekly instruction led by professional dance instructors. They built confidence, learned new skills, and worked together as a team before taking the stage at the Portland Youth Dance Recital — for many, an opportunity they wouldn't otherwise have had. Partnerships like this ensure every child can explore their interests and experience the joy of trying something new.
Every small chance to lead builds tomorrow's confidence.
Whether it's through team sports, peer discussions, or taking the lead on a Club activity, every small leadership opportunity builds an adolescent's confidence for the future. Your support gives young people meaningful chances to realize the power they possess to shape the world around them.
By the Numbers
99
youth, ages 12–18, participated in 1:1 formalized mentorship
1
Maine State Youth of the Year, representing Portland and BGCSM
Real Impact, Real Kids
Our Torch Club members are learning that leadership means giving back. After exploring the importance of gratitude and service, they organized a bake sale to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House, helping families through some of life's most difficult moments. As Club members themselves, they understand what it means to have a supportive community — and they were proud to pay that kindness forward.
Portland's own Nludi Celestino, an 8-year Club member and member of the Casco Bay High School Class of 2026, was named Maine State Youth of the Year. This fall, Nludi heads to college to pursue a career as an HVAC technician. As Nludi put it:
Building the resilience to thrive.
Growing up today isn't easy. Through our Health & Wellness initiatives, we guide young people toward positive risks — trying new sports, joining challenging programs, forming meaningful friendships — while laying the foundation for strong physical and mental health. Your support ensures every young person has the resilience and strength to build a bright future.
By the Numbers
75,485
meals and snacks served
241
members engaged in SMART Moves prevention and education programs
12
six-week sessions of our Healthy Habits Cooking Program held across all Club sites
284
kids took the field through team recreation sports like soccer, basketball, and football.
102
kids learned to swim through our eight-week Michael Phelps IM Program in Auburn and Portland.
Real Impact, Real Kids
Through the Healthy Habits Cooking Program, middle schoolers partnered with the Portland Media Center to write, film, and star in their own cooking show — building confidence, teamwork, and on-camera skills while sharing what they learned about healthy eating with their peers.
When 6-year-old Joshua first joined our Michael Phelps Foundation IM swim program, he was terrified of the water, clinging to the pool's edge or to staff for comfort. As a child on the autism spectrum, learning to swim was a significant challenge. But with patience, encouragement, and support from our staff, Joshua gained confidence week by week. By the end of the program, he was swimming alongside his friends — an achievement that once seemed out of reach.
It's proof that a strong foundation for the future starts with feeling healthy, supported, and capable today.
Your Support Makes This Possible
From the classroom to the pool, the stage to the workplace, every story on this page started with someone believing in a Club Kid. Stronger Kids. Stronger Communities. — that's what we build together.
FY26 was a year of significant investment and transition for Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine. While we concluded the year with an operating deficit, BGCSM maintains a healthy endowment and enters the final year of our successful A Place for Growth capital campaign from a position of long-term strength. We invested in financial leadership and systems modernization to strengthen budgeting, cash management, and forecasting. As we enter FY27, a multi-year financial plan will align sustainable revenue with program growth and organizational capacity, ensuring responsible stewardship of every dollar entrusted to our mission.
FIND YOUR CLUB
CLOSEST TO YOU
PORTLAND
277 Cumberland Ave
Four Communities. One Mission.
AUBURN
43 2nd St.
SOUTH PORTLAND
169 Broadway
LEWISTON
65 Central Ave
Real moments.
Real Impact.
@bgcsm
