The Need

Across the country there are 15.1 million teenagers without access to quality afterschool programs. Without a safe place to go after school, boys are six times more likely to commit a crime and girls are 50% more likely to become teenage mothers. Overall, teens are twice as likely to drop out of school.

The need is clear.

At buildOn we not only provide U.S. youth with a safe space afterschool; we empower them to change their communities and the world! buildOn students, from some the most challenging and under resourced schools in our nation, contribute literally hundreds of thousands of service hours to their communities.

From Oakland to Southside Chicago, from Detroit to the Bronx, buildOn students spend their out-of-school hours listening to U.S. veterans at homeless shelters, bringing groceries to individuals afflicted with HIV/AIDS, and cleaning and caring for our community. They have traveled, just as you’ve seen in “From the Field,” to remote villages in impoverished nations to help break the cycle of poverty, by bringing education to those who need it most.

And what’s more, 95% of buildOn students in the U.S. graduate high school and attend college.

This is why I’m so pleased to announce the launch of the buildOn Afterschool Campaign at buildonafterschool.org in support of our critical programs.

Through this campaign you have a direct link into each of buildOn’s 118 programs nationwide. You will meet students living in your city right now and are working to make the community better for all. You can learn about, and then support, the buildOn program that means the most to you.

We hope you will help us in celebrating the students who have the drive, compassion and foresight to spend their after school time with buildOn. We are inspired by their work and are thankful for your support.

Visit buildOnafterschool.org and make an impact today.