How the Panda Cares–BGCA partnership is empowering the next generation of America’s youth.
Panda Express is typically known for serving Chinese food to millions of people across the country, but its reach extends far beyond its restaurants.
Through its philanthropic arm, Panda Cares, the popular Chinese fast-food chain has donated $62 million (and counting!) to Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), a nonprofit that provides supportive programs to help young people nationwide.
It is wonderful to see such a prominent global corporation not only giving but doing so at such a significant level.
To learn more about the impact of Panda Cares’ investment, I had the privilege of speaking with Jennifer Bateman, Senior Vice President of Youth Development at BGCA. She was a joy to speak with, extremely personable, and it was clear that she is sincerely energized by the mission in front of her.
Jennifer has extensive experience in the educational non-profit world. Right out of undergrad, she led an after-school program in NYC, where many of the children spent more waking hours at the after-school program than they did at school and home combined. This is still common for inner-city after-school programs nationwide.
This 'boots on the ground' experience ignited a passion in Jennifer. She saw how after-school programs have an incredible opportunity to change the trajectory of young lives. That conviction led her to earn her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.
That same passion fuels her today, as she leads BGCA’s national program strategy. It’s clear that Jennifer is leading BGCA with authentic, personal conviction and competency—and that Panda Cares’ investment is in good hands.
Betting on America's Youth
During the height of the pandemic in 2020, Panda Cares made their initial investment in Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Unlike traditional philanthropy focused on short-term results, Panda Cares has committed to a sustained, multi-year approach addressing the fundamental challenges facing America's youth.
"This partnership couldn't have come at a more perfect time," explains Bateman. "When schools were disrupted by the pandemic, Panda Cares stepped forward with a vision to invest in evidence-informed approaches that work—and then scale them across the country."
Truthfully, the statistics are sobering. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 33% of American fourth-graders are reading proficient. High school graduation rates are also declining, with the on-time graduation rate dropping as low as 74% for some minorities, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
As someone who worked in education during covid myself, I was not surprised by these numbers. The educational crisis in America today is extremely problematic, especially among under-privileged communities. The restraining forces are complicated, multi-faceted, and far from something that can be solved with a “quick fix”.
Panda Cares recognizes this. Through their strategic investments in infrastructure, programming, and human capital across BGCA's national network, they are finding solutions that go beyond “better teachers” or “more educational resources.” BGCA also shares this vision with them—investing in excellent afterschool programs to provide full, wrap around support for students.
By the end of this year, BGCA will have established 159 "Centers of Hope"—each receiving $45,000 for community-tailored improvements—only possible by the generosity of Panda Cares and Panda Express associates and guests. These centers feature educational technology, libraries, specialized furniture, and resources designed to foster learning.
"What makes this partnership unique is how deeply Panda Cares understands our work," notes Bateman. "They're committed to the whole 'arch' of youth development—the opportunity, the access, the environments, and the programs that make lasting change possible."
The long-term vision is even more ambitious, with Panda Cares aiming to create at least 400 Centers of Hope nationwide. Through providing wrap around support for students outside of school, these Centers of Hope are creatively offering a comprehensive solution to a complex problem.
Instilling a Love of Learning
At the heart of the partnership is Project Learn, BGCA's research-based approach to bolstering academic achievement. The program has demonstrated remarkable results, including an 11% increase in GPA and a 66% decrease in school absences among participating youth.
However, both Panda Cares and Boys & Girls Clubs of America are committed to more than just improving academic scores—they aim to foster a lifelong love of learning. In many of the underprivileged communities that BGCA serves, children are deprived of the opportunity to explore their academic and extracurricular interests. The partnership seeks to bring opportunities to these communities and change the future for these children.
The Panda Cares investment has already enabled nearly 3,000 sites to implement Project Learn, with a goal of reaching as many young people as possible in Clubs across the country.
Investing in People: Comprehensive Support
As a data-driven organization, BGCA has established clear metrics to measure the partnership's success, including improvements in math and overall GPA, decreased school absences, on-time graduation rates, workforce interest identification, and emotional management skills.
But what distinguishes this partnership is its comprehensive approach. Beyond physical improvements, the partnership addresses historically challenging issues like staff turnover by providing higher salaries, better training, and improved working resources. Jennifer emphasized that Panda Cares understands that, to bring about wide-spread and sustainable change, it’s not just about building new buildings, it’s about investing in the whole system from the bottom up.
In addition to funding staffing and supplies, this $62 million dollar gift also supports alumni of BCGA through college scholarships. So far, the partnership has established 308 scholarships.
"These scholarships target young people who are already leading initiatives and spearheading community service," says Bateman. "It's about nurturing the next generation of changemakers."
Heroic Philanthropy
The impact of this investment is truly remarkable. In partnership with BGCA, Panda Cares is changing lives.
For Samantha, a shy student from California who struggled in a large school environment, the Club became a place where she found her voice. Now a first-year college student, she represents countless success stories emerging from this partnership.
BGCA stands as a powerful example of how a nonprofit can transform a generous gift into lasting, measurable impact. To date, over 1.1 million lives have been improved through this gift—and that number continues to grow.