WORCESTER—The Boys & Girls Club of Worcester has received a $150,000 boost from longtime supporter Unum, thanks to a three-year grant aimed at expanding job training programs and helping fund a new youth facility in Great Brook Valley.
The grant boosts the workforce development program based at its Harrington Clubhouse, which offers resume workshops, professional certifications, job shadowing, and even free Driver’s Ed to help teens prepare for employment. It also supports “A Club to Call Home,” the club’s capital campaign to build a modern youth center in North Worcester.
“At Unum, we’re committed to building stronger communities by unlocking the potential of tomorrow’s leaders,” Cary Olson Cartwright, AVP of corporate social responsibility at Unum, said in the announcement. “Our partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester is an investment in opportunity, growth, and lasting impact.”
The club’s current North Worcester location, based in a Worcester Housing Authority building, can only serve about 50 kids a day. The planned new facility would increase that capacity tenfold, serving up to 500 youth daily while also offering community resources for local families.
Unum’s relationship with the Boys & Girls Club spans more than 15 years. The company has supported the Plumley Village outreach site through holiday gift drives and pandemic-era support, while also sending employees to volunteer and participate in club events.
“Unum’s commitment to the Club exemplifies outstanding corporate engagement,” said Boys & Girls Club CEO Liz Hamilton in the release. “This new partnership signifies an investment in our youth’s future success, equipping all our kids with essential tools for workforce readiness.”
For more information on the Club’s campaign and programs, visit www.bgcworcester.org/aclubtocallhome.
