Boys & Girls Clubs of America announced a $1 million grant from Red Nose Day to expand digital literacy skills to thousands more youth nationwide through the My.Future digital literacy program. The announcement comes as Boys & Girls Clubs of America celebrates "My.Future Week" with activities highlighting the critical role of digital skills in today's world.

Launched in 2014 by Boys & Girls Clubs of America in partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal, My.Future provides access to a variety of digital programs and activities that help youth develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed for future success in STEM and any career – from building basic digital skills like online safety, to cultivating technical skills like coding, to building social and emotional competencies like problem-solving and innovative thinking.

"The world we live in runs on technology, and digital skills are essential for any future career," said Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Thanks to our long-time partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal, we're able to help young people in underserved communities prepare for and compete in today and tomorrow's digital workforce. Now with additional support from Red Nose Day, we look forward to enabling more youth to become anything they want, equipped with the skills needed to pursue their passions."

With nearly 4,400 Clubs serving more than 4 million youth through membership and community outreach, the partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal is critical to bridging the digital divide for kids and teens nationwide. The additional funding from Red Nose Day will help further expand the reach of My.Future to an additional 45 Clubs.

"We are proud Red Nose Day has teamed up with us to invest in closing the opportunity gap for youth who aspire to succeed in today's technology-driven world," said Dalila Wilson-Scott, senior vice president of Community Impact at Comcast Corporation. "Together with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, we're tackling the spectrum of digital literacy needs – whether that's improving high-speed internet access, offering STEM activities like coding and media making or helping youth hone their digital and social-emotional skills by participating in online extensions of in-Club programming."

Managed by the nonprofit Comic Relief Inc., Red Nose Day is a fundraising campaign dedicated to ending child poverty through their annual star-studded fundraising events, which have raised nearly $150 million in the last four years. The My.Future grant will enable Boys & Girls Clubs across the country to expand their technology capabilities, train staff, and bring My.Future and its program activities to more kids, especially those in under-resourced urban and rural areas with limited internet access and digital programming.

"Thanks to the millions of generous Red Nose Day supporters, we are thrilled to provide this grant to expand My.Future. More children in some of the most underserved communities across the country will now have the tech access to grow, learn and thrive," said Janet Scardino, CEO, Comic Relief USA. "It's a great way we can amplify this powerful program developed by two of our long-standing partners: The Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Comcast NBCUniversal."

While American youth are considered "digital natives" growing up in a world infused with technology, kids and teens from underserved communities often lag behind in technical skills due to inequities in access, content, and context of their interactions with technology. Increasing workplace digitalization makes it even more urgent for youth to learn technical skills to compete for most jobs because the vast majority now require digital skills.

According to a 2018 national survey commissioned by Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Comcast NBCUniversal:

• Only 37% of teens say their career goal requires STEM skills, though industry reports show that 80% of future jobs will require STEM skills.

• Most teens surveyed report that they are not involved in any STEM programs, and the #1 reason why is because their school doesn't offer them.  

• Less than half of teens think that women, minorities and low-income students have the same access to STEM education, resources and jobs when compared to the general population. 

• Nearly 60% of teens enjoy technology, and the majority state that they are really good at math and science; however, only 33% express an interest in pursuing a career in STEM.