Nearly 7,000 kindergarten through 12^th grade students in Atlanta will receive the benefits of an Academic Acceleration Program thanks to a $500,000 donation by Peach Bowl, Inc. to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA) as part of Peach Bowl, Inc.’s involvement with The Same House’s Beloved Benefit 2023.

Between 2019 and 2022, due to COVID-19, Georgia students lost more than four months of math learning and two months of reading learning, setting them back the equivalent of nearly a full grade level. In response, Governor Kemp directed funding from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER) to help after-school time providers like Boys & Girls Clubs, who established additional academic support programs for their members. However, those funds were exhausted in September 2023 with nearly eight months left in the academic year.

“This was a clear and obvious opportunity for us to step in and help Atlanta students in a time of need,” said Gary Stokan, Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and president. “Supporting education at all levels has always been a priority for us, and we were not going to miss this chance to help our students catch up in their educational growth.”

The half a million dollars in funding will support the current Academic Acceleration Program that includes staffing, program implementation, materials, technology and evaluation for more than 40 academic coaches at 25 Boys & Girls Club sites around 10 Metro Atlanta counties serving nearly 7,000 students. The donation from Peach Bowl, Inc. will sustain efforts of the program through the end of the current academic year in May 2024.

“I am deeply grateful to Peach Bowl, Inc. for their generous and impactful contribution of $500,000 to support our Academic Acceleration Program,” said BGCMA President & CEO David Jernigan. “This partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration between organizations committed to igniting the unlimited potential of our youth. With their support, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta will continue to provide critical resources to help close learning gaps exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, we are making a profound difference in the lives of Atlanta's future leaders.”

Peach Bowl, Inc. has been a sponsor of Beloved Benefit, a program of The Same House, since its inception in 2019.  Peach Bowl, Inc. selected Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta to receive their designated funds connected to Beloved Benefit 2023, which raised a record $8.8 million for Atlanta area nonprofits.

“We appreciate the longstanding support of Peach Bowl, Inc. in our efforts to grow and expand Beloved Benefit and The Same House,” said The Same House CEO Rodney Bullard. “They have come alongside us since day one and their support of our Beneficiaries has been tremendous and impactful for these worthwhile organizations.” 

The Academic Acceleration Program provides certified teachers to serve students as academic coaches who work closely with members to identify unique needs and opportunities for growth. They use specialized technology tools and benchmark testing to track progression towards Georgia’s educational standards.

Two years into program implementation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta has tracked early outcomes highlighting notable progress and milestones. Results of benchmark testing showed that 65% of youth below grade level at the beginning of the academic term returned to grade level by the end of the term. An additional 35% showed an increase in progress toward grade level achievement.