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According to Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2024 Youth Right Now report, 92% of Boys & Girls Club members are on track to graduate high school on time, and 74% expect to attend college. In partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Panda Cares, Miami Panda Express presented the grand opening for the newest Panda Cares Center of Hope at Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s Kendall Club.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade staff and youth members, along with Panda Express associates, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Panda Cares Center of Hope on Wednesday, Sept. 3. Guests enjoyed Panda Express food and giveaways, a book donation sponsored by Panda Cares, photo opportunities with Pei Pei, the Panda mascot, and more activities. The Panda Cares Center of Hope is a newly renovated space within Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s Kendall Club Teen Center, designed to deliver more joy and academic success impact to the local community.
Each Center of Hope located inside Boys & Girls Clubs across the country practices Project Learn, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Panda Cares evidence-based, holistic strategy to support youth-centered learning in Clubs. The strategy reinforces and enhances what young people learn during the school day through things like homework help and high yield learning activities, while creating experiences that invite them to fall in love with their academic journey.
The Panda Cares Center of Hope is designed to meet the needs of Club members and includes features state-of-the-art computers, stylish teen-focused furniture that is interactive and modular, cinematic TVs, immersive gaming systems, and cutting-edge STEM equipment for them to learn, engage, and grow. The Center of Hope is more than just a place for academic success; it is a hub of innovation where young people can access a range of resources, from STEM kits and art supplies to books and digital learning platforms. Here, they can participate in workshops, mentorship programs, and extracurricular activities that broaden their horizons and build confidence. The opening of this location aligns directly with Panda Cares’ commitment to further enhance academic success resources for Boys & Girls Clubs members across the country.
“By creating an inclusive and supportive atmosphere, the Panda Cares Center of Hope aims to empower our youth members, helping them navigate their educational journey with enthusiasm and resilience,” said Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade President Alex Rodriguez-Roig. “We are excited to see the positive impacts this center will have on our community, as it plays a pivotal role in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.”
This year, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Panda Cares Foundation are celebrating five years of partnership. Since 2020, Panda Cares has committed more than $51 million in support to enhance academic programming, support Project Learn, establish Panda Cares Centers of Hope in Boys & Girls Clubs across the country, and launch the Panda Cares Scholarship Program, providing vital funding to Club members in support of their continued education and pursuit of a great future after they leave high school.
About Panda Express®:
On a mission to inspire better lives, Panda Express®, the largest Asian dining concept in the US. Family-owned and operated since 1983 by Co-Founders and Co-CEOs Andrew and Peggy Cherng, Panda Express is best known as a trailblazer for creating a wide variety of industry-first recipes, including its best seller The Original Orange Chicken® and award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp, which have defined the category of authentic American Chinese cuisine. Each dish at Panda Express is thoughtfully crafted with quality ingredients and inspired by bold Chinese flavors and culinary principles. The restaurant brand has more than 2,500 locations and has introduced American Chinese cuisine to 12 international countries. Powered by a global family of associates, Panda Cares®, Panda’s philanthropic arm, has raised more than $329 million and has dedicated countless volunteer hours in bettering the health and education for over 15 million youth, as well as supporting communities in need since 1999. In 2021, Panda Express established the Panda Community Fund — a five-year, $10 million community investment and response program that supports immediate and sustainable solutions from national and local organizations to uplift diverse groups, including people of color and other marginalized communities. For more information about Panda, visit PandaExpress.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America:
For more than 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles. Over 5,400 Clubs serve more than 3 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. The national headquarters is located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Facebook and LinkedIn.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade has been serving youth in the community since 1946. What once was a single building and site for boys has grown to six Clubs and sites combined serving thousands of boys and girls year-round, providing programs in the areas of character and leadership development, educational enhancement, career preparation, health and life skills, cultural arts and sports, fitness and recreation. Club staffing, initiatives, and programs are designed to inspire and enable area youth and provide them with the resources to succeed and share in the American Dream. For more information, please call 305.446.9910 or visit www.bgcmia.org, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
