Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities (BGCTC) held their 19th annual Tailgate at the Taproom event on Aug. 13 at Fulton Brewing—celebrating BGCTC’s Club youth “All Stars” with nearly 200 community supporters in attendance. BGCTC’s Club “All Stars” are youth who have made consistent gains in academics, positive behavior, and good sportsmanship and are recognized monthly at the Clubs. Guests enjoyed tailgate-perfect food and beverages supplied by Buffalo Wild Wings and Fulton Brewing, supported BGCTC through interactive games and a silent auction, and heard from the 2024 Mt. Airy Boys & Girls Club “Youth of the Year,” Soriya Chann, as she answered questions with Bally Sport North’s sideline reporter, Audra Martin. After the “tailgate” at Fulton, everyone headed over to the Twins game to cheer on the team and enjoy a fun night at the ballpark.
Photos Courtesy of Aster Lee
Funds raised during Tailgate at the Taproom allow BGCTC to continue to provide quality programming for K-12 Club members to ensure that all youth are on track for a successful future beyond high school graduation. At the Clubs, skilled youth development professionals deliver year-round education and youth development programs focused Academic Success, Health & Wellness, and Life & Workforce Readiness. This work has tremendous impact for Twin Cities youth and teens, and programs are provided free of charge.
Success is the delivery of high-quality education and youth development opportunities that support all youth in reaching their full potential, on track for a successful future beyond high school graduation. BGCTC is striving to achieve greater and more consistent impact than ever before. BGCTC’s constant focus on increasing quality of programming, increasing each member’s attendance, and monitoring our 1:20 staff-youth ratio is key to helping youth develop positive relationships with staff and peers, build trust, and gain more from each program.
Through strong community partnerships, BGCTC is poised for growth in a way that now allows us to provide equitable opportunities for success for even more Twin Cities youth by adding locations to meet identified community needs. BGCTC now operates 13 Twin Cities Club locations with the recent additions of the following Club locations: Elk River Club (opened October 2023); BGCTC’s Voyageur Environmental Center in Mound (providing residential and day-camp opportunities for BGCTC youth since 1968, opened as an official afterschool Club location serving grades 5-12 in January 2024); and the John W. Hardeman III Club (located within the V3 Sports Center in North Minneapolis, opened July 2024).
The continued support of community members and partners is what makes these vital BGCTC programs possible and accessible for youth and teens across the Twin Cities. By attending an event like Tailgate at the Taproom, volunteering at a Club, or simply sharing BGCTC’s mission with your community, you are helping to create equitable opportunities for ALL Club youth.
