The Boys & Girls Club of Worcester announced a $350,000 operational gift from the Esler Family Foundation to support its Family & Individual Mental and Behavioral Health Services programs. The investment includes establishing “The Kindness Space,” a dedicated office hub for youth and family support services that will serve as the center for the Club’s mental and behavioral health initiatives.
The funding will sustain and expand programs providing case management, counseling, mentoring, and access to essential resources for families across Worcester. “The Kindness Space” will focus on strengthening support systems for young people and families, increasing access to mentors and resources, and expanding peer-led mentoring opportunities.
According to Liz Hamilton, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, the foundation’s commitment enables the organization to continue providing consistent, high-quality support to youth and families. The Family & Individual Mental and Behavioral Health Services program offers holistic support including individual, family, and group counseling, access to on-site food and clothing pantries, connections to community resources, and relationship-based mentoring.
The Esler Family Foundation highlighted the Club’s unique position as a trusted environment for identifying and addressing emerging mental health needs among youth. Jeanne Lawton Esler, PhD, co-founder of the foundation, noted that by integrating mental health services within a space where children already feel safe and supported, care becomes both accessible and responsive when needed most. John Esler, co-founder, expressed optimism about a multi-year partnership, hoping the naming gift will expand the organization’s capacity to provide mental health services.
The Boys & Girls Club serves more than 8,000 youth annually across three clubhouses, offering arts, sports, recreation, academic support, leadership development, mentoring, and job readiness programs. Membership costs $10 for teens and $50 for children under 13.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://patch.com/massachusetts/worcester/worcester-boys-girls-club-receives-350k-mental-health-services