Worcester Boys & Girls Club Receives $350K For Mental Health Services

WORCESTER, MA — The Boys & Girls Club of Worcester announced a $350,000 operational gift from the Esler Family Foundation that will support the organization’s Family & Individual Mental and Behavioral Health Services programs.

The investment includes naming the Club’s mental and behavioral health services office “The Kindness Space,” which will serve as a dedicated hub for youth and family support services.

The funding will help sustain and expand programs that provide case management, counseling, mentoring and access to essential resources for families across Worcester.

“The Kindness Space” will focus on strengthening support systems for young people and families, increasing access to mentors and resources, and expanding peer-led mentoring opportunities.

“This extraordinary commitment from the Esler Family Foundation ensures that we can continue to provide consistent, high-quality support to the youth and families who rely on us every day,” said Liz Hamilton, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester. “Their investment strengthens the foundation of our work, building trusted relationships, supporting mental and behavioral well-being, and creating opportunities for young people to succeed.”

The Boys & Girls Club said its Family & Individual Mental and Behavioral Health Services program offers holistic support for youth and families, including individual, family and group counseling, access to on-site food and clothing pantries, connections to community resources and relationship-based mentoring.

Jeanne Lawton Esler, PhD, co-founder of the Esler Family Foundation, said the Club is uniquely positioned to help identify and address emerging mental health needs among youth.

“Because the Boys & Girls Club is a trusted and familiar environment for young people, it is uniquely positioned to serve as an early point of connection — helping to identify emerging mental health needs and provide timely support,” Esler said. “By integrating these services within a space where children already feel safe and supported, we can ensure that care is both accessible and responsive when it matters most.”

John Esler, co-founder of the Esler Family Foundation, said the organization looks forward to a multi-year partnership with the Club.

“We hope this naming gift will build the capacity of the organization to expand access to mental health services,” he said.

The Boys & Girls Club of Worcester serves more than 8,000 youth annually at its clubhouses in Main South, Great Brook Valley and Plumley Village. Programs include arts, sports and recreation, academic support, leadership development, mentoring and job readiness opportunities.

Membership costs are $10 for teens and $50 for children under 13, with the organization relying on grants, donations and fundraising events to cover the majority of its operating budget.

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