American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation provides $300,000 gift to Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County for AVID/TOPS program

NEWS RELEASE SOURCE: Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County

Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County is eager to announce a generous donation of $300,000 from American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation. This substantial gift will provide crucial support to the highly successful AVID/TOPS and TOPS College Success programs, empowering students in Dane County to excel academically and prepare for future success. 

AVID/TOPS (Advancement Via Individual Determination/Teens of Promise) is an intensive in-school and out-of-school partnership between Madison Metropolitan School District and Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County. The program focuses on nurturing students' writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading skills, equipping them with the essential college and career readiness tools. Through the AVID/TOPS initiative, students receive the AVID college readiness curriculum and benefit from tutoring, college field trips, mentoring, summer internships, and career exploration opportunities. 

American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation has been a long-time supporter of the BGCDC and of the AVID/TOPS program specifically. Over the last eight years, the American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation’s investment has accomplished the following: 

• The AVID/TOPS partnership with MMSD began as one classroom with 28 students and now has served 975 high school students, 117 middle school students, and 671 students enrolled in college in the 2022-2023 academic year 

• Solidified AVID/TOPS as one of the key drivers of equity within the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) and has positioned AVID/TOPS and TOPS College Success as a leading initiative in the state of Wisconsin connected to college access and success for first-generation college students, low-income students, and students of color 

• An average 86% on-time college enrollment rate for AVID/TOPS graduates since 2015 

• 386 program alumni who have earned a college degree 

"We would not be where we are today without the support of American Family Insurance," stated Michael Johnson, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County. "We have one of the most successful college access and success programs in Dane County, Wisconsin, and likely the Midwest, if not nationally. Thank you, American Family Insurance, on behalf of the thousands of students we've served thus far and the thousands of students we will prepare for academic success in the future." 

The impact of American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation funding on the AVID/TOPS and College Success programs has been transformative. The key achievements include: 

• Students in the AVID/TOPS program reported significantly fewer excused and unexcused absences compared to their peers 

• Students demonstrated higher cumulative GPAs and increased levels of Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors course credits, a significant predictor of college success 

• High school graduation rates among program participants have soared, with unmatched levels of enrollment into post-secondary education 

“We believe we have a responsibility to help close equity gaps and affect positive social change so everyone can rise, and partnering with organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County is one way we do that,” said Maggie Pascaly, American Family community and social impact director.  “In 2016, the first major commitment of the American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation was the AVID/TOPS program, because it is one of the most successful and statistically significant drivers of equity in the school district. We’ve been proud to continue support of this program that provides youth with the resources and experiences they need to reach their full potential.” 

Through this remarkable donation from American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County will continue to drive impressive impacts and empower underrepresented students, ensuring they graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in college, career, and community. 

To support the AVID/TOPS academic programs or learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, please visit www.bgcdc.org/donate or www.bgcdc.org. 

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About Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County
We are a local not-for-profit youth development organization serving thousands of youths in eleven locations, including eight school-based sites and three traditional Club sites. The Clubs fuel kids with the inspiration to dream and teach them the skills to achieve when they are most impressionable through quality programs in five core areas: Character & Leadership Development; Education & Career Development; Health & Life Skills; The Arts; and Sports, Fitness & Recreation. See the impact we make in the life of each Club member here: www.bgcdc.org. 

About American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation
The American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation, Inc. builds on our long-standing commitment and support of communities we serve by offering unrestricted, general operating grants to eligible non-profit partners. We are committed to using trust-based values to create meaningful, impactful relationships and reduce the inherent power imbalances of the traditional funding model. Like many of our community partners, we’re also committed to learning, listening, and changing through collaboration and trust. The Dreams Foundation grant funding priorities are Academic Achievement and Education, Healthy Youth Development, Economic Opportunity, and Community Resiliency. These priorities align with our organizational efforts to invest in and improve the communities where we live and serve. Read more.