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.

Thank you to our golfers, sponsors, volunteers, and donors for a stellar day of golf on June 9, 2025. Your engagement will help us continue to build great futures for our Clubhouse youth and the greater community. While the weather was a bit wet and cold, we are grateful for a day full of camaraderie, delicious food and drinks, and most importantly impact. We heard from two Youth of the Year, Avery P. and Nate P. about the impact that WBGC has made on their lives, and how your support of the Great Futures Golf Tournament makes it possible. We’re already looking forward to next year! A special thank you to our Eagle Sponsors: Aon Risk Services, Emcor Group, Inc, the Ernest W. & Agnes W. Kaulbach Charitable Foundation, Turner Construction, and West Fair Electric Contractors.

Congratulations to Caroline G. and Jack S. from our Southport Clubhouse! Caroline and Jack are both recipients of a $5,000 Judgement Free Generation(r) Scholarship from Planet Fitness. Since 2017, Planet Fitness has annually awarded scholarships to deserving teens who model the judgement free, pro-kindness, and anti-bullying values for which Planet Fitness and Boys & Girls Clubs of America collectively stand. These scholarships recognize youth who are passionate about promoting kindness and inclusion in their communities. This year, Planet Fitness provided 50 high school seniors from around the U.S. with these scholarships that directly support their post-secondary education. Through a multi-tiered review process, scholarship recipients were selected based on multiple criteria including a personal essay, staff recommendation and video submission. Each piece of the submission helped showcase how participants actively advocate for kindness and acceptance through the demonstration of Judgement Free values. Caroline stated, "My 11 years at Wakeman Boys & Girls Club shaped me into a mentor, leader, and role model. From Torch Club to Co-President of Keystone, I developed communication, collaboration, and leadership skills that I now carry into every role. Wakeman BGC empowered me to lead with compassion, listen with empathy, and support others." "Winning the Planet Fitness Judgement Free Generation Scholarship will enable me to pursue my dream of a career in global public health policy. With this support, I can focus on roles that align with my passion for health equity and community impact, worrying less about financial constraints. The award also empowers me to continue to work to promote kindness and belonging in all communities," added Caroline. Jack stated, "Being judgement free is the foundation for an inclusive and collaborative society. It's the key to understanding differences and broadening your horizons. All of these characteristics help to create a better society for our future." "I’d like to thank Planet Fitness for allowing me the opportunity to grow as a person and try new things during the application process and for awarding me with this scholarship. I would also like to thank Wakeman Boys & Girls Club staff for their support and mentorship through the years. Specifically, I would like to thank Coreen Ahmad for helping me every step of the way throughout high school, both as a Wakeman BGC staff member and as a Keystone leader," added Jack. We wish Caroline and Jack much success as they embark on their next chapters at college!

In collaboration with Apple, Wakeman Boys & Girls Club is offering coding and creativity programming, helping prepare Fairfield & Bridgeport youth for careers of today and tomorrow and equipping them with critical workforce skills, including creativity, coding, problem solving, and teamwork. “At Apple, education is in our DNA—and we know technology can open doors to new opportunities and give students the tools to pursue their dreams,” said Stacy Erb, director of Apple’s Community Education Initiative. “We’re thrilled to continue supporting the incredible work taking place at Boys & Girls Clubs across the U.S. to help inspire creativity and prepare today’s young people with the skills they need to succeed in cutting-edge careers.” Coreen Ahmad, Director of Character & Leadership Initiatives for WBGC, stated, “As part of our commitment to STEAM education, our Club youth have learned to code using Swift Playgrounds and Xcode and have had opportunities to participate in a variety of programs and special events, including a trip for our teens to learn at Apple Fifth Avenue in NYC.” In December 2021, Apple announced it was teaming up with Boys & Girls Clubs in more than a dozen U.S cities to bring coding with Swift to tens of thousands of students across the country. Since then, Wakeman Boys & Girls Club has launched new programming for local youth, including after-school and summer learning opportunities. Participants use iPad and Apple’s coding and creativity resources to gain new skills, explore art and design, and pursue their passions. “Our Keystone and Torch teen leadership clubs focus on how to use Apple technology to explore and build workforce skills,” Ahmad explained. “Additionally, Club youth use the technology to focus on literacy, including compound words, Word Webby Award speeches, and weather reports.” “We held a Showcase during our annual Hand in Hand awards, which over 300 community members attended. The Showcase included a video of creative and coding work, and Apple technology in use, by Club kids. Attendees also had the opportunity to experiment with the apps and explore the work we have completed,” added Ahmad. Wakeman Boys & Girls Club’s collaboration with Apple is part of Boys & Girls Clubs of America Innovate, an initiative dedicated to bringing coding and creativity programming to Clubs across the U.S and Germany. To date, this initiative has engaged hundreds of educators and served more than 15,000 young people. Wakeman Boys & Girls Club invites you to visit to see their coding in action! Please contact Coreen Ahmad at coreen@wakemanclub.org to schedule a visit.

The fourth Annual Hand in Hand Celebration, held on April 28, 2025 at the Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse , honored the Youth of the Year and awarded community members for their achievements.

Wakeman Boys & Girls Club teen members across all three Clubhouses – Southport, Madison Avenue, and Smilow-Burroughs, participated in a project funded by The Capital Region Education Council (CREC) to bring awareness of problem gambling to youth in CT. The Public Service videos explore the dangers of online gambling, peer pressure, ease of access and the aggressive targeting of youth through social media ads. Our teen participants felt empowered to become advocates for education regarding youth gambling. We are grateful for CREC, the CSDE, The Hub and Take Part Theatre for the support of this project..

Thank you to everyone who supported ultramarathoner Evan Titus and WBGC throughout the Run Across Connecticut, and for joining us at the Pit Stop Party. Evan is a WGBC hero and has served as an amazing role model for Club youth as he ran for great minds, bodies, and futures!

More than 270 teens and advisors from Boys & Girls Clubs across the Northeast attended the Northeast Regional Torch Club Summit at the WBGC Southport Clubhouse on Saturday, March 29. Teens from six states (NY, NY, NH, MA, RI and CT) had the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions and workshops, share experiences and explore opportunities for personal and Club growth. Presenters from organizations across Fairfield County, including Mystic Aquarium, Sacred Heart University, Apple educators, Synchrony Bank, Silver Hill Hospital, other Boys & Girls Clubs, and many more, shared their learnings and experiences with the teens. This conference was presented by the Southport Clubhouse Keystone Club with support from the Connecticut Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs & CT BGC Professional Association. Thank you to our presenters, volunteers and advisors for helping to make this event a success!