Telling Their Story: Great Futures Start Here

Stories – and the ways in which they are told – are important to me.

As a senior communication studies major at Widener University, I had the privilege of helping tell the story of the Boys & Girls Club of Chester (BGCC) for my senior capstone project. The yearlong project gives students like me the chance to apply our classroom knowledge to help a local nonprofit. In our case, we created an entirely new website for the club, as well as other valuable materials for communicating with the people of Chester.

The club’s tagline is “Great Futures Start Here” and over the last year, I saw the truth behind that statement firsthand. Alongside my group members, Angela DiGaetano, Connor Pietro, and Annette Schnurr, I witnessed how much the BGCC staff cares about the youth of Chester.

It was clear from our first visit last fall that the staff are passionate about the work they do and the people they serve. We could tell how much time and energy they pour into this organization, seeking to make a difference in young lives.

And, that devotion is paying off. Their members not only benefit from a wide variety of after-school programs and events, they also benefit from mentorship, encouragement, and support from the staff and volunteers.

This moved me. It made me feel honored to partner with them.

Throughout this project, I was determined to tell the BGCC story in a way that connects with the community and furthers the work they are doing. Nonprofit organizations like the BGCC depend on donations and volunteers to continue serving the community, making it all the more important for their message to be engaging and to generate more involvement.

We started the project by researching the BGCC and its needs. We looked at best practices for website layout and design, using meaningful visuals, and emotional storytelling.

This preliminary research allowed us to create multiple new resources for the center. The redesigned website is an organized and functional space that shares photos, videos and descriptions of the club’s good work, and ways to get involved. We also created new print pieces, a social media calendar and two new promotional videos. These materials boldly and simply showcase the work of this organization, making it easy for someone to connect with the mission and be compelled to join and support it.

The Boys & Girls Club of Chester’s story is worth sharing. I am glad I was able to use my senior year at Widener to help tell it.