On a day like any other in 2002, a little girl stepped through the doors of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield to begin a journey to realize a dream. Today this eighteen-year-old young woman steps through the doors of UTC Aerospace where she is working as a tool design engineer. With the help of mentoring staff members and friends she made at the Club, Kate was able to become a shining example of how Great Futures truly start HERE, at The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield.

This past spring Kate was named the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield’s Youth of the Year and is now studying manufacturing at Springfield Technical Community College.

“It’s the Club that has prepared me for the successful future I’m heading towards,” says Kate. “The Club is my family who teaches me, supports me and has given me the tools I needed to achieve my dreams.”

Early on, Kate immersed herself in all programming and services offered at the Club. She found her love of engineering while participating in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) based curriculum Immersion Learning. She gained the self-confidence to pursue a degree in a male dominated field by engaging in SMART Girls, a small-group health, fitness, prevention/education and self-esteem enhancement program. Maybe, most importantly, she learned how to be a leader through her involvement in Keystone Club, a teenage leadership and service club.

Last year the Club finished construction on a 10,000 square foot addition that has been helping us increase our impact on kids like Kate. This addition has enabled us to triple our teen membership, increase the number of programs offered daily to our 1,300 members, and feed over 300 children free nutritious snacks and 125 dinners daily.

Today we are asking you to help us ensure more children like Kate get their start toward Great Futures at your Boys & Girls Club. By making a financial contribution to the Club, you can help a child find their passion, perfect their skills and increase their self-confidence to head down a path of greatness.

It just takes one person to help a child’s dreams come true. We hope you will join us in creating Great Futures through a financial contribution to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield.