Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore and Panda Cares, the Philanthropic Foundation of Panda Express, Partner to Enhance Academic Success for Afterschool Time

Open the door to Academic Success at the grand opening of the Panda Cares Center of Hope at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore at Brooklyn O’Malley  

Baltimore, MD (October 17, 2025) – According to Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2024 Youth Right Now report, 92% of Boys & Girls Club members are on track to graduate high school on time and 74% expect to attend college.  

In partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Panda Cares, Baltimore Panda Express presented the Grand Opening for the newest Panda Cares Center of Hope, Club at Brooklyn O’Malley, featuring a ribbon cutting ceremony, Panda Express food, activities and give away items for youth. The Panda Cares Center of Hope is a newly renovated space within our Club designed to deliver more joy and academic success impact to our local community.   

Each Center of Hope located inside Boys & Girls Clubs across the country practices Project Learn, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Panda Cares evidence-based, holistic strategy to supporting youth-centered learning in Clubs. The strategy reinforces and enhances what young people learn during the school day through things like homework help and high yield learning activities, while creating experiences that invite them to fall in love with their academic journey.   

Club Manager Kyra Nichols shared, “We are deeply grateful to Panda Cares Foundation for their support and partnership in making this vision a reality. Our members now have a bright, inspiring place to learn, play, and dream big every day." 

Center of Hope is more than just a place for academic success; it is a hub of innovation where young people can access a range of resources, from STEM kits and art supplies to books and digital learning platforms. Here, they can participate in workshops, mentorship programs, and extracurricular activities that broaden their horizons and build confidence. The opening of this location aligns directly with Panda Cares’ commitment to further enhance academic success resources for Boys & Girls Clubs members across the country.  

Club member Karis W. shared, "I know that every kid who walks through these doors will find mentorship, make friends, and create memories that last a lifetime. I’m so excited that everyone helped make this space possible—it’s going to be an amazing place for all of us.” 

A local Panda Express representative shared, "We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of this Center of Hope with the Club. We hope every member feels welcome here and knows that this is a place to learn, grow, and have fun whenever they need it." 

This year, we are celebrating five years of partnership between Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Panda Cares Foundation. Since 2020, Panda Cares has committed more than $51 million in support to enhance academic programming, support Project Learn, establish Panda Cares Centers of Hope in Boys & Girls Club across the country, and launch the Panda Cares Scholarship Program providing vital funding to Club members in support of their continued education and pursuit of a great future after they leave high school.  

About Panda Express®  

On a mission to inspire better lives, Panda Express®, the largest Asian dining concept in the US. Family-owned and operated since 1983 by Co-Founders and Co-CEOs Andrew and Peggy Cherng, Panda Express is best known as a trailblazer for creating a wide variety of industry-first recipes, including its best seller The Original Orange Chicken® and award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp, which have defined the category of authentic American Chinese cuisine. Each dish at Panda Express is thoughtfully crafted with quality ingredients and inspired by bold Chinese flavors and culinary principles. The restaurant brand has more than 2,500 locations and has introduced American Chinese cuisine to 12 international countries. Powered by a global family of associates, Panda Cares®, Panda's philanthropic arm, has raised more than $329 million and has dedicated countless volunteer hours in bettering the health and education for over 15 million youth, as well as supporting communities in need since 1999. In 2021, Panda Express established the Panda Community Fund — a five-year, $10 million community investment and response program that supports immediate and sustainable solutions from national and local organizations to uplift diverse groups, including people of color and other marginalized communities. For more information about Panda, visit PandaExpress.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America  

For more than 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles. Over 5,400 Clubs serve more than 3 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. The national headquarters is located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Facebook and LinkedIn.   

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore:  

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore (BGCMB) enables all young people—especially those who need us most—to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. With more than 252,000 children in Maryland lacking access to out-of-school time programs, BGCMB is closing the gap one child, one Club, one community at a time. Through 10 Clubs serving more than 1,500 youth across Baltimore City, Howard County, and the Eastern Shore, BGCMB delivers high-quality programs built on four core pillars: health and wellbeing, academic success, character and leadership, and life and workforce readiness. Together, these pillars prepare young people to thrive today and build a brighter future for tomorrow.. www.BGCMetroBaltimore.org