In order to help more than 3.6 million youth each year achieve their dreams, Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) relies on the generosity of its partners and donors. In late May, one of these partners, Maytag, matched any donation made to the nonprofit up to $75,000. The matching offer is just another example of Maytag’s longstanding commitment to supporting BGCA youth.
Maytag has partnered with BGCA since 2003. In addition to the matching offer, the appliance maker supports BGCA with its Maytag Dependable Leader Award. Presented each year to a BGCA mentor who has consistently shown to be a positive influence on young people, the award comes with a $20,000 grant that the recipient can use to support a program of their choice at their local club.
Maytag has honored 114 leaders with the award, among them Jimmy Carter. Along with celebrating the exceptional contributions of the former president in 2020, Maytag donated a full suite of kitchen appliances to the Plains, Georgia, club that carries his and his late wife’s name.
The following year, Maytag began to donate even more kitchen appliances to BGCA when it launched the Feel Good Fridge program. Recognizing that one in six children in the United States lack consistent access to food, Maytag began donating refrigerators stocked with nutritious food items to Boys and Girls clubs across the country.
In 2021, Maytag donated 10 refrigerators to clubs in four cities. By the end of 2024, it plans to have donated 60, each of which helps to feed between 120 and 130 youth every day. Maytag also provides a small grant to each club to ensure the refrigerators remain stocked while the club seeks sustainable local funding.
Over its two-decade relationship with BGCA, Maytag has donated hundreds of appliances and provided more than $9 million in donations and scholarships. Its support has reached more than 100,000 young people.