September 2026
Welcome to the September 2026 edition of Community & Club Connections, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area’s (BGCAA) monthly newsletter! Stay up to date on the latest news about our programs, upcoming events, and how we’re empowering youth in academics, leadership, health & well-being, and life & workforce readiness.
| | 🎒Back to School Bash Uniting 500+ Families Ready for School! | | Back-to-school season is here, and we’re excited to welcome new and returning Club youth as they begin another year of learning, growth, and opportunity. | | To help families prepare, BGCAA partnered with the Austin Spurs to host the annual Back-to-School Bash, a free, family-friendly event connecting Austin-area youth and families with resources to start the school year healthy, prepared, and confident. More than 500 community members joined us for an afternoon of activities, services, and support, including free backpacks, AISD school registration assistance, health resources, and other community services. | |
Thanks to our health partners, 65 free sports physicals were also provided to help teens get ready for the upcoming school and sports seasons.
The event brought together families, community organizations, and partners—including Austin ISD, St. David’s Foundation, and the Austin Spurs—to make sure local youth have the resources and support they need to start the school year strong.
| | 🏅Celebrating The Champion Within at the 2026 Great Futures Gala | | Every young person has the potential to lead, grow, and achieve a great future. At Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area, we are committed to helping young people discover their strengths, build confidence and resilience, and access the opportunities and relationships that help them thrive. | | | | |
The 2026 Great Futures Gala: The Champion Within will bring together young people, families, mentors, supporters, and community partners for an inspiring evening celebrating the impact we can create when we invest in the next generation.
Together, we’ll celebrate the accomplishments of our Club members and recognize the dedicated partners who help make safe spaces, meaningful experiences, and opportunities for growth possible every day.
| | This evening is a celebration of what our young people can achieve—and of the community that stands behind them. We look forward to coming together to honor the Champions Within and help ensure more young people have the opportunity to discover theirs. | | 🌟 Back to Clubs, Back to Opportunity | | |
From homework help during Power Hour to cooking, dance, and everything in between, our Club members are back and ready for another year of learning, creating, connecting, and having fun!
At the Club, every afternoon is an opportunity to discover new interests, build skills, make connections, and grow with confidence. Back to Clubs means back to opportunities, back to community, and back to building great futures.
Not yet registered? Find a Club and register today at bgcaustin.org/join-the-club
| | 💫 NextGen Club Teens Explore STEM Career Pathways | | | | |
NextGen Academy Club teens visited Samsung Austin Semiconductor to learn more about the operations that support careers within the STEM industry.
During the visit, teens explored the Semiconductor Showroom, viewed operations from the Observation Deck, and met with engineers and technicians to learn how the technology is designed and produced.
| | Through conversations, the teens gained a better understanding of the technical skills and education available in the growing field. The experience provided teens with real-world exposure to potential future opportunities in STEM and workforce development. | | 🥊 Building Confidence Through Boxing | | |
In partnership with the Police Activities League of Austin, Club kids had the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of boxing. Through their training, all participants built physical skills while also developing discipline, perseverance, and confidence by working toward their set goals.
The impact goes far beyond the ring. Each training session gave Club kids a chance to build resilience, practice healthy habits, and discover what they’re capable of achieving. Experiences like these empower young people to set goals, overcome challenges, and carry the confidence and determination they build at the Club into the classroom, their communities, and their futures.
| | 🙌 Ladder for Leaders: Building Career-Ready Skills with Accenture | | |
Over the summer, Ladder for Leaders and Classroom Ready Club teens stepped into the professional world during a visit to Accenture. Through interactive workshops and hands-on activities, teens gained insight into the workplace while learning more about the skills, expectations, and opportunities that can shape their careers.
The visit gave teens a chance to connect what they’re learning at the Club to possibilities beyond it—identifying their strengths, exploring career pathways, and thinking about the next steps toward their goals. Experiences like this help young people see themselves in future careers and begin building a roadmap for where they want to go.
| | 💰Building Financial Skills for the Future | | Navarro Club teens spent the summer building practical financial skills through a summer-long program with Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT). Through interactive workshops and real-world experiences, Club members explored topics including budgeting, credit, investing, and financial planning—gaining a better understanding of how the financial choices they make today can shape their futures. | | As part of the 2026 Financial Literacy Program cohort, eligible participants who complete all program requirements will receive a $1,000 investment account with a 10-year investment horizon. This opportunity gives teens a chance to put what they’ve learned into practice while taking an early step toward building long-term financial stability. | | | | |
"I learned that banking could be a possible career for the summer-long programs. It could give you benefits for school and overall better set up for life for your money.
We learned a lot about budgeting and taking care of your money. We learned a lot about credit stuff, how to keep your credit high and how your credit could go low. We’ve learned a lot of meaningful information that we can use and should use in the future." – Kaitlyn S., Navarro BGC Member
| | From understanding how to manage money to learning how investments can grow over time, Club teens are gaining knowledge and confidence they can carry with them after high school. We’re grateful to iACT for helping our teens build the financial literacy and skills needed to pursue great futures. | | 💻 Thank You, Dell Technologies, for Empowering Our Mission | | Thank you to Dell Technologies for your generous donation of laptops to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area. By equipping our staff with updated technology, Dell is helping us strengthen programs, enhance collaboration, and create even more opportunities for Club kids to learn, grow, and thrive. | | |
“While this gift will support the work of our staff, their impact will be felt by every young person we serve. We’re incredibly grateful to Dell for investing in the people and resources that help us create brighter futures for the kids and families in our community.”
– Mike Dunn, BGCAA Board member
| | We're grateful to have Dell Technologies as a valued technology partner, investing in our mission and empowering the people who make a difference in the lives of young people every day. Together, we're building Great Futures. 💙 | | | | Great Futures Luncheon Opens Doors for Opportunities | |
We're grateful to have Dell Technologies as a valued technology partner, investing in our mission and empowering the people who make a difference in the lives of young people every day. Together, we're building Great Futures. 💙
📰 West Austin: Great Futures Luncheon Opens Doors for Opportunities
| | 🏛️ Congressman’s Visit That Highlights the Power of Community | | |
Congressman Pete Sessions visited Berkman Academy Boys & Girls Club, where Club ambassadors led the tour of their after-school experience and shared how the Club has become a safe, welcoming place to go after school, an opportunity many didn’t have before.
The visit also brought together leadership from Boys & Girls Clubs and Round Rock ISD for a meaningful conversation with Congressman Sessions about the impact of Clubs on school attendance, academic performance, and life and career readiness.
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BGCAA Clubs & Headquarters CLOSED
BGCAA will be closed in observance of Labor Day.
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Heart of Texas Trades Day
Club teens in 8th-12th grade meet real professionals and get the inside scoop on careers in electrical, general construction, HVAC, plumbing, and so much more! Connect with a middle or high school Club Director for more information.
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RRISD Ribbon-Cutting Celebration
Boys & Girls Clubs will celebrate the opening of 10 new Club sites in partnership with Round Rock ISD.
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SAVE THE DATE for our Great Futures Gala
Save the Date for an unforgettable night of impact and inspiration at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area 2025 Great Futures Gala: The Champion Within at JW Marriott Austin. Learn More
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