2025 Impact Report

In 2025, you helped us serve so many children and teens throughout Portage County.

A Message from our CEO

As I reflect on 2025, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude.


This year was about showing up,for our youth, our families, and our communities. We met youth where they are by expanding our reach across Portage County and into Marshfield, ensuring more young people have access to a place where they feel safe, supported, and inspired.


Because of an incredible team that lives our values every day, our Club continues to be a place filled with FUN, offering sports, academics, arts, and meaningful experiences that allow kids to simply be kids. We are INCLUSIVE, ensuring all youth, regardless of financial circumstances, can walk through our doors and belong. We are RESPONSIVE to community needs by providing grab-and-go meals during the holidays, expanding services, and strengthening our focus on workforce development and access to mental health supports. We provide a SAFE environment where youth are welcomed by familiar faces they trust, and we remain TRUSTWORTHY stewards, honoring the confidence families place in us and ensuring every donor dollar directly supports our Club members.


We strive to uphold these values through our Team, our Club, and most importantly, our Youth. Thank you for being part of our Club family in 2025. We look forward to continuing this important work together in 2026. 

Danielle Belsky

Chief Executive Officer

By the Numbers

The Boys & Girls Club of Portage County fills the gap between school and home. For a nominal fee, we provide welcoming, safe, and positive environments in which children and teens have fun, participate in high-quality programs, and build supportive relationships with peers and caring adults.

2,586

Total Youth Served

92,455

Free, Healthy Meals were Served to

Club Members

1,068

Hours of Power Hour Completed

135

Caring Staff Employed at the Club

Areas of Impact

Youth Served

1,175

1st-6th Grade Youth Served

577

Teen Served

834

Non-Club Members Served

Food Service

Approximately 55% of the youth we serve qualify for the free and reduced-price school lunch program.


By providing free, healthy dinners to their children, BGC can substantially reduce household expenses for these families. This financial relief will allow families to allocate funds to other essential needs, such as utilities, housing, or healthcare.

16,411

Dinners Served

54,492

Snacks Served

21,552

Breakfasts & Lunches

1,199

Grab 'n' Go Meals Served During the Holidays

Academics

Boys & Girls Clubs’ academic enrichment experiences, such as high-yield learning activities and games, and support in the form of targeted tutoring and homework assistance help youth perform well academically.

1,068

Hours of Power Hour Completed

685

STEAM Activities Completed

69

Youth Participated in our Summer Reading Enrichment Program

YouthForce

YouthForce programs help Portage County teens and youth explore potential careers and post-secondary education options, obtain their first job, and develop skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century workplace. 

245

Teens Partcipated in YouthForce Programming

52

YouthForce Programming Sessions Held

12

Junior Staff

Club Impact Stories

When a student first connected with the Boys & Girls Club, he was facing instability at home, inconsistent school attendance, and academic struggles. Now a senior on track to graduate in May 2026, he found a safe, supportive place in the Teen Center and consistent encouragement from caring staff, which helped him begin attending regularly, building confidence, and engaging in positive activities that revealed his strengths.


Today, he is attending school consistently, passing all of his classes, and participating in school activities he once would not have considered. Because of the generosity of our donors, this student is preparing to graduate with a strong foundation for his future. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to creating positive, lasting outcomes for the youth we serve.

A longtime Club member recently took an exciting step from participant to employee through our Junior Staff program. After years of growing up at the Club, she joined the program to gain hands-on experience, build confidence, and explore potential career paths. Her dedication and strong work ethic quickly stood out, and she was invited to continue working with the Club during the school year, marking her first paid job experience.


In her new role supporting operations behind the scenes, she has discovered her strengths and interests while developing real-world workplace skills. Her journey reflects the power of our workforce development programs to help young people explore their passions, gain meaningful experience, and take confident steps toward their future.

During DIY STEM programming this year, three fourth-grade Club members noticed that staff could use extra support when working with younger participants. Without being asked, they stepped forward to help, volunteering their time to guide younger members through hands-on projects and activities. What began as curiosity and enthusiasm quickly grew into an opportunity for leadership and service.


Through this experience, these youth have gained more than scientific knowledge; they’ve developed confidence, empathy, and leadership skills. By showing patience, kindness, and encouragement, they’ve become positive role models for younger members and peers alike, helping to create a culture of support and collaboration throughout the Club. Their actions reflect how the Club empowers young people to lead, care for others, and make a meaningful impact.

Our Mission & Values

To inspire and empower our youth to realize their full potential.


Our Values:

  • Fun
  • Inclusive
  • Responsive
  • Safe
  • Trustworthy