Grand Opening Held for Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse

Council Will Build Community and Increase Clubhouse Impact

Over 260 Teens From Across Northeast Shared Experiences and Explored Opportunities

Claire Russell Will Advance to State Competition

$100,000 grant supports finance lab tools and resources at the Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse

John F. Kelly, Chairman, Board of Trustees

Wakeman Boys & Girls Club teamed up with Price Rite Marketplace and Feed the Children to distribute food and essentials to 400 local families on Thursday, November 2. The event is part of Price Rite Marketplace’s 2023 Feeding Minds & Bodies campaign in partnership with Feed the Children, which helps support food-insecure families in communities where Price Rite Marketplace stores operate. Recipients were pre-identified by Wakeman BGC in October via a first-come, first-served voucher distribution. On November 2, voucher holders returned to the Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse where they received boxes of food, personal care items, children’s books, backpacks filled with school supplies, bottled water, Price Rite Marketplace gift cards and other essential items provided by Feed the Children and Price Rite Marketplace. Over 50 team members from Price Rite’s two Bridgeport Stores (Main St and Boston Ave.) and stores in Danbury and the Hartford area (Wethersfield, New Britain, West Hartford, Windsor) helped distribute food on event day. Wakeman BGC staff were on hand to facilitate event logistics. “Price Rite Marketplace is committed to helping food-insecure families in the communities it serves,” said Kevin McDonnell, president of Price Rite Marketplace. “Our Feeding Minds & Bodies campaign is one of the many ways we serve our neighbors, and we are grateful to work with Feed the Children and the Boys & Girls Club to provide critical resources to children and families in need in nine cities.” “Hunger not only affects children’s health, but also their performance in school,” said Travis Arnold, president and CEO of Feed the Children. “To properly address childhood hunger and all the issues it causes, people need to work together, and that is what we aim to do with the Feeding Minds & Bodies campaign. Partners like Price Rite and Wakeman Boys & Girls Club are vital to our mission as we serve vulnerable communities.”  Before the two-hour event, volunteers and staff heard from organization representatives and local dignitaries who thanked everyone for coming together to make an impact. Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, Superintendent of Bridgeport Schools Dr. Carmela Levy-David, Mayor Joseph Ganim, and others spoke about the importance of such partnerships in filling critical needs for so many in vulnerable communities.

Wakeman Boys & Girls Club is proud to announce that Chief Executive Officer, Sabrina Smeltz, was awarded the prestigious Blue Spirit Award from Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

The Second Annual Hand in Hand Celebration honored accomplishments in academics, sports, and leadership.

Lisa Byrne, Chief Financial Officer