On a weekday afternoon at the Club, Mariangely sits beside young members, offering encouragement as they work through a lesson together. The questions, the pauses, the quiet moments of progress—she recognizes them instantly, because she remembers what it feels like to be young and learning how to believe in yourself.

Mariangely grew up as a Club member at Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama, where caring mentors provided a safe, consistent environment to learn, grow, and explore who she could become. That experience stayed with her. Today, as a freshman at Auburn University, she returns during summer and Christmas breaks—not out of obligation, but out of purpose.

“The Boys & Girls Club gave me a safe place to learn, grow, and believe in myself,” Mariangely says. “Coming back as a literacy intern means everything to me because I get to help kids discover the same confidence and love of learning that once changed my life.”

Ashlyn’s journey reflects the same values, expressed in her own way. A former Club kid from Boys & Girls Clubs of Pike County, she is now a sophomore at Alabama A&M University. During the school year, Ashlyn serves as a literacy intern, working with Club members who need extra support strengthening their reading skills and academic confidence. Her motivation is simple...

“I was once inspired here. Now I get to inspire the next generation.”

What makes Mariangely and Ashlyn especially effective isn’t just their academic success—it’s perspective. They understand the importance of consistency, encouragement, and showing up, because those were the things that shaped them. Their presence sends a powerful message to younger members: someone who once stood where you stand is choosing to walk alongside you.

Through one-on-one and small-group instruction, they help children build skills, confidence, and belief in what’s possible. These moments may appear small, but they add up—shaping how young people see themselves, their potential, and their responsibility to others.

This is the deeper impact of the Club experience.

From the beginning, the Clubs focus on more than short-term outcomes. They instill values—service, accountability, and respect for community—that influence how young people move through the world long after they leave the Club. Over time, those values create a shift in perspective: success isn’t just about personal achievement, but about staying connected and giving back.

Mariangely and Ashlyn embody that shift. Their journey—from Club kids, to college students, to literacy leaders—shows how investment in young people multiplies. What begins as support becomes commitment. What starts as opportunity becomes leadership.

For donors, this is what your investment makes possible. You’re not just supporting programs—you’re helping shape young adults who remain engaged, invested, and ready to strengthen the communities that helped raise them.

This is the full-circle impact of the Clubs.A culture of involvement that carries forward.A shared responsibility for the next generation.

And that is why America Needs Club Kids. To support children like Mariangely and Ashlyn, please visit bgcnal.com/donate. *All stories have been approved by children and their parents, or guardians