News & Highlights

Thank you for going Over The Edge for WBGC! Wakeman Boys & Girls Club hosted its annual Over The Edge urban rappelling event on October 25, 2025 at the M&T Bank Headquarters (850 Main Street) in Bridgeport, CT. The event featured participants rappelling down the side of the 248-foot-tall building to support WBGC in delivering programs that promote academic success, health & wellbeing, character & leadership and life & workforce readiness. To date, the event has raised over $96K for WBGC and it's not too late to give ! Wakeman BGC is grateful to our rappelers, event sponsors, volunteers, and community partners for making the day a tremendous success. Thank you to our: Presenting Sponsor: M&T Bank Rising To The Challenge Sponsor: Emcor Base Camp Sponsors: Mark Kelly of Safety Marking Anchor Sponsor: Comcast Ropes Sponsors: Turner Construction and City of Bridgeport Helmet Sponsor: Aquarion Water Company T-Shirt Sponsors: Legere and Bartlett Tree Experts Belay Sponsors: Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders and Wegman's “As Presenting Sponsor of Over The Edge, M&T Bank is proud to support the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club and its mission to empower young people through academic achievement, health and wellness, leadership development and workforce readiness. Events like this bring our community together and create impactful change for future generations,” said Frank Micalizzi, M&T Bank’s Regional President in Bridgeport. “M&T believes in making a positive impact in people’s lives, strengthening our communities and investing in the future—and that starts with investing in our youth. We thank WBGC for their tireless work and for inviting us to be part of this exciting day. Together, we’re building stronger futures—one rappel at a time.” Check out the News 12 coverage here. More photos to come!

Wakeman Boys & Girls Club (WBGC) is thrilled to announce new inductees into its Hall of Fame, an event which takes place once every five years. Inductees will be celebrated at the WBGC Hall of Fame Gala on Friday, December 5 at 6:30 pm at the Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse (595 Madison Ave., Bridgeport, CT). Inductees to the WBGC Hall of Fame were nominated by the general public and selected by a committee comprised of WBGC Staff, the WBGC Board of Trustees, and community members. Inductees were selected for their exceptional dedication, leadership and impact within WBGC, the community, and beyond. Specific qualification criteria, and a list of previous Hall of Fame inductees, is available on wakemanclub.org. The 2025 inductees include: Bradford Evans Raquon Johnson Mark Kelly Andy Knuth & Jennifer Loya Nick & Patti Makes Bob Martinez Molly McHugh Tom Mindrum Matt Morgan Meg Jean Louis (Orazio) Kevin Simmons The festive “Hall-iday” Hall of Fame Gala will include dinner and cocktails, uplifting speakers, and a celebration of the lasting impact of our inductees and the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club community. Tickets are available to the public for $150/person and can be purchased at wakemanclub.org through November 26, 2025. The event is a fundraiser for the organization. “Our new class of inductees has played a direct role in the growth and impact of our organization. They have served as volunteers, mentors, trustees, and friends to Wakeman BGC, helping to open the door for Club youth to attain lifelong success,” stated Sabrina E. Smeltz, WBGC’s Chief Executive Officer. For those who cannot attend the event but would like to support WBGC’s mission, a donation can be made on wakemanclub.org. Wakeman Boys & Girls Club thanks ASML and Webster Bank for serving as Star sponsors, and Guardian Insurance for serving as a Keystone sponsor, of the event.

Kids, teens and young adults explored careers in the fields of construction, architecture and engineering, met leaders from union and apprenticeship trade programs, and engaged in hands-on projects at the Construction Junction on Wednesday, October 15 at the WBGC Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse . Sponsored by a collective of industry partners to mark Construction Inclusion Week , participating organizations include Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders, DeWalt Tool Company, EMCOR, Gilbane Building Company, Home Depot, IBEW Local 488, Iron Workers 424, Kafa Group, Northeast, O&G Industries, Turner Construction Company, and Wakeman Boys & Girls Club. “We’re looking forward to bringing together industry leaders and local youth to connect on careers and opportunities in these important fields. The Construction Junction directly supports our goal to help young people achieve positive outcomes in life & workforce readiness,” commented Sabrina E. Smeltz, Wakeman Boys & Girls Club CEO. “Innovative partnerships and programs are essential to creating opportunities for the current and next generation of our industry. Construction in Connecticut is a multi-billion-dollar industry and Construction Inclusion Week is one opportunity to spark interest and excitement in local youth about the great careers available,” stated Chad McCullough, Turner Construction Company, Vice President & General Manager. Participants also learned about the ACE Mentor Program offered at the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club, designed to expose high school students to careers in architecture, construction, and engineering, including skilled trades. Mentors from ACE companies, such as Turner, work with the students to complete a culminating architectural project. Through this 15-week program, 30 teens have opportunities for summer externships and college scholarships.

Representatives from Comcast were joined by Connecticut State Representative Jennifer Leeper to announce a $15,000 grant to Wakeman Boys & Girls Club to advance digital literacy and expand access to essential technology in Bridgeport. “We appreciate Comcast’s commitment to Bridgeport and their support of our youth through this generous donation,” said Connecticut State Representative Steve Stafstrom. “In today’s world, digital proficiency is necessary for education, career readiness, and civic engagement. By equipping our youth with the tools and skills they need to succeed, Comcast and Wakeman Boys & Girls Club are helping to level the playing field and open doors to more choices, which every child deserves.” Comcast’s grant will directly support the Club’s Digital Futures Program, which provides hands-on digital literacy classes, workforce training, and creative technology experiences, such as coding, game design and visual arts. The program also offers job application assistance and STEM-focused mentoring, creating a comprehensive support system that empowers youth to build real-world skills and prepare for future success. In addition, Comcast is donating 50 laptops to enable more Club members to participate in immersive STEM learning. “Comcast’s generous support is helping us equip Bridgeport’s youth with the tools and training they need to thrive in a tech-driven economy,” said Sabrina Smeltz, Chief Executive Officer of Wakeman Boys & Girls Club. “With enhanced STEM programming and access to laptops, our members are exploring new interests, building critical skills, and developing the confidence to grow as the next generation of leaders.” Carolyne Hannan, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s New England Region, added: “Comcast is proud to be an active part of the Bridgeport community. Together with Wakeman Boys & Girls Club, we’re honored to help more families gain the resources they need to embrace the Internet. This grant reflects our deep commitment to expanding digital opportunity in the communities we serve and to helping people build the skills they need to thrive in today’s connected world.” The donation is part of Project UP , Comcast’s $1 billion commitment to connect people to the Internet, create digital opportunity, and build a future of unlimited possibilities. This includes programs such as Internet Essentials , Lift Zones and Digital Navigators . Since 2011, Internet Essentials has connected more than 380,000 low-income Connecticut residents to broadband service at home. Comcast has also launched 32 Lift Zones across the state to provide free, high-speed WiFi and digital skills training at local community centers. This grant reflects Comcast’s broader investment in Connecticut, including a major infrastructure project currently underway to expand its reliable high-speed network to nearly 62,000 homes and businesses in Bridgeport . To further celebrate the collaboration, volunteers from Comcast partnered with Sportsman Channel to host a Hunt.Fish.Feed . dinner for Club members and their families. The meal featured venison tacos, showcasing how wild game can be a nutritious and kid-friendly option. “It’s been a pleasure to partner with Comcast and to engage with members of the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club,” said Sportsman Channel Chef Paul Comes. “The Hunt.Fish.Feed. program has served more than 42,000 meals nationwide, and seeing kids enjoy something new and delicious is rewarding.” Launched in 2007 by Sportsman Channel, Hunt.Fish.Feed. raises awareness of the ongoing hunger crisis in the United States. Comcast’s support of the program builds on its long-standing commitment to community service and meaningful partnerships.

Congratulations to WBGC Board of Trustee Michelle Guzzi (center, in pink) for receiving a Leadership Award at the Opening Doors Leadership Dinner, hosted by the Connecticut Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and Connecticut Area Council. In addition, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and our Fairfield Representative Jennifer Leeper received Champions of Youth Awards at the event. We appreciate their help in opening the door to great futures for WBGC youth and teens!

In September 2025, Wakeman BGC held two Day For Kids events, in conjunction with the annual Boys & Girls Club tradition. On September 6, we collaborated with Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders and Southwest Community Health Center for our second annual event at 595 Madison Avenue. On September 13, our Southport Clubhouse held a successful Day For Kids event too! Check out the photos below by Pandora Kerma Photography.

A huge thank you to the New York Giants and USA Football for hosting the WBGC Cowboys Football players on Sunday, July 27th, and for donating $5,000 to help us continue to provide our teams with top tier equipment, coaches, and resources. It was an unforgettable experience for our Club youth! Learn more about the WBGC Cowboys Tackle Football program here.

Wakeman Boys & Girls Club (WBGC) has announced that Gregory Dickinson has joined the organization as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). Dickinson will oversee operations at WBGC’s three Clubhouses and two school-based sites across Bridgeport and Fairfield. Dickinson’s primary responsibilities include overseeing youth programming and out-of-school operations, ensuring financial sustainability, strengthening partnerships with other local organizations and local government, and ensuring safety and risk management best practices. “We are thrilled to welcome a leader of Greg's caliber to WBGC,” stated Sabrina E. Smeltz, CEO of Wakeman Boys & Girls Club. “As we expand our programming into new areas and strive to increase our impact, it is crucial that we continue to operate with excellence and efficiency. Greg will be a key player in ensuring our success,” she added. Prior to joining WBGC, Dickinson held leadership roles at several non-profit organizations throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. Most recently, he served as the Director of Community Engagement for New York Edge, an after school and summer youth program provider. In this role, Dickinson was responsible for providing senior-level operational oversight to multiple program locations throughout metropolitan New York City. With Greg's support, his portfolio of sites consistently exceeded quality service standards and stakeholder relationship expectations. Throughout his career in non-profit leadership, Greg has been driven by a passion to build strong teams, to prioritize collaborative leadership, to cultivate trusting relationships, and to develop programs that support the holistic needs of young people and their families. "I am excited about the opportunity to join Wakeman Boys & Girls Club, an organization with such a rich and respected history. I look forward to working with an amazing team of leaders to continue supporting youth and families of the greater Bridgeport and Fairfield communities," stated Dickinson. Dickinson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Queens College, and a Master of Science in Business Management of Sports Industries from the University of New Haven. WBGC is committed to providing a safe space and an inspiring environment for youth and teens, and to help youth reach their full potential. To learn more, contact Leslie LaSala, Director of Marketing & Communications, at 203/909-3381 x 205 or llasala@wakemanclub.org .

WBGC will host its annual Over The Edge urban rappelling event on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at the M&T Bank Headquarters (850 Main Street) in Bridgeport, CT. The event will feature participants rappelling down the side of the 248-foot-tall building to support WBGC’s programs that promote academic success, health & wellbeing, character & leadership, and life & workforce readiness. Participation in the event is open to the public and no rappelling experience is needed. Training will be provided on the day of the event. Those under 18 must have a signed waiver from a parent or guardian to participate. Participants have historically represented different groups: youth members and their families, long-time friends and supporters of WBGC, sponsors, and pure thrill seekers. It will be a fun day of cheering on participants, with food, music and kids’ activities. WBGC hopes to raise $100,000 at this year’s event. Participants are asked to raise $1000 in advance of their rappel. Teams may also be formed to pool their raised funds and increase their impact. In the spirit of Halloween, participants can choose to wear a costume as part of their rappelling experience. “This is always one of our favorite events,” stated Sarah Motti, Director of Development for WBGC. “It’s a thrilling experience for the rappelers and has a tremendous impact on our Club youth. We hope the community will come out to support us,” she added. WBGC is grateful for the generous support of M&T Bank (Presenting Sponsor), EMCOR (Rising to the Challenge Sponsor), Comcast/Xfinity (Anchor Sponsor) and Turner Construction (Ropes Sponsor) To learn about additional sponsorship opportunities, contact Alexis Shivers, Assistant Director of Development, at ashivers@wakemanclub.org or 203/908-3381 x 201. To donate or register for Over The Edge, visit wakemanclub.org/events. Over The Edge is a national organization whose mission is to help other non-profit organizations host urban rappelling fundraising events.