For over 40 years, the Boys & Girls Club of Assabet Valley has empowered young people to become productive, caring, and responsible citizens. Serving children ages 5 to 18 in Maynard, Stow, Concord, Acton, and Sudbury, MA, the Club is dedicated to fostering growth, building confidence, and strengthening community among youth.
ThinkGive partners with the Boys & Girls Club of Assabet Valley to bring valuable social and emotional learning (SEL) programming to students. We gathered feedback from both educators and students about their ThinkGive experience—here’s what they had to say.
Grades: 3-4
Location: Maynard, MA
Began partnership with ThinkGive: 2022
Impact of ThinkGive on Students: “Participants loved the ThinkGive sessions, describing them as a powerful way to build confidence and foster inclusivity.”
Highlights of the ThinkGive Experience: ”Student participants often shared real-life situations where they applied what they learned in ThinkGive. In one case, two friends found themselves in an argument. But instead of letting emotions take over, one of them paused, calmed down, and took the time to understand why the other was upset—just as they had practiced in a ThinkGive session. They realized that arguing wouldn’t solve the issue and, through open communication, were able to reconcile. In the end, their friendship grew stronger because they truly listened to and understood each other’s feelings.”
Survey Results: After participating in ThinkGive, students reported significant improvements in their social and emotional skills:
100% felt more connected with their community, 100% with their peers, 100% with their friends, 100% with their teachers, and 100% with their families.
100% agreed that they were becoming kinder to others.
83% agreed that they felt more confident in their ability to make a positive impact in their world.
Student Voices: Here’s what some students had to say about their ThinkGive experience:
“I learned how to understand different points of view.”
“I now think more about others and how they might feel.”
“ThinkGive has changed how I think and feel.”
Minna Kim, ThinkGive Program Coordinator, shared her reflections on the partnership:
“Two years into our partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Assabet Valley, I have seen firsthand the Program Manager’s unwavering dedication to both the youth and ThinkGive. The site has faced challenges and staffing changes in recent years, requiring significant adjustments. Through it all, their team has adapted seamlessly, collaborating with us to tailor programming to best support both staff and students.
Most recently, their team ran our Be the Spark program for a group of 1st through 5th graders. They shared that the students were eager to continue with ThinkGive, so we’re now working together to implement a Spotlight program for the remaining months of the school year.”
The Boys & Girls Club of Assabet Valley is a recipient of the SEL for Every Child Fund, which provides full funding to implement ThinkGive’s SEL programming. If your school/organization serves a majority of under-resourced youth and lacks funding for SEL initiatives, find out if you qualify at thinkgiveproject.org/fund.
