West Fresno Panda Cares - Center of Hope Grand Opening Celebration
In partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Panda Cares Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Panda Express, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County proudly celebrated the grand opening of its new Panda Cares Center of Hope, located at the West Fresno Boys & Girls Club.
The Panda Cares Center of Hope is a newly transformed learning space designed to inspire curiosity, build confidence, and strengthen academic success for young people in the West Fresno community. The Center supports Project Learn, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s evidence-based approach to youth centered learning.
The space includes a fully refreshed learning environment featuring modern furniture, updated technology, shelves for displaying artwork, all intentionally designed to create a welcoming, engaging space where Club Kids can learn, create, and grow. Panda Cares Center of Hope serves as a hub for curiosity, literacy, and innovation. Club members have access to STEM kits, books, art supplies, digital learning platforms, mentorship opportunities, and experiential workshops that connect learning to real-world skills and future careers.
Panda Cares - Center of Hope
In 2022, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, together with Panda Cares, launched Panda Cares Centers of Hope in local Clubs across the country. Each Center of Hope serves as a multi-functional, multi-purpose space that brings to life the values of Boys & Girls Clubs and Panda Cares by creating a safe space that encourages each Club member to dream big, reenergize, express their emerging identities, and fuel their educational passions.
Through a $45,000 grant each Club refreshes a room in their Club to be named the Panda Cares Center of Hope and adopts or enhances policies, practices, programs, and professional development into their program model, to ensure the greatest success outcome:
Integrating programs, through Project Learn, that spark joy and fun while supporting the academic outcomes of youth
Utilizing relationship-centered practices that support youth’s individual needs and creates a sense of belonging, allowing Club members to dream big
Providing professional development opportunities for all staff to enhance best practices for interacting with youth and providing the best Club experience possible
Evaluating and improving academic outcomes by establishing and maintaining strong Continuous Quality Improvement practices
