The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro North is participating in the Summer Food Service Program this July and August. Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. 

Meals will be provided, at a first come, first serve basis, at the sites and times as follows: 

Saugus Teen Center: Square One Mall 1201 Broadway W135 Saugus, MA (July 7th – August 22 M-F 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM)

Hall Memorial Pool: 4 N Border Rd, Stoneham, MA 02180  (July 7 – August 22 M-F 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM)

South School:  7 Summer St, Stoneham, MA 02180 (July 7 – August 22 M-F 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM)  

Hesseltine Playground: 23 Ruggles St, Melrose, MA 02176  (July 7 – August 22 M-F 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM)

Medford Public Library 111 High Street, Medford MA 02115 ( July 7- August 22 12pm-1pm)

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: [email protected].

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The Boys & Girls Club of Metro North has welcomed John Shagoury as the new CEO of the organization. After 10 years at the club, former CEO Adam Rogers has decided to step down, passing the torch to John. John brings with him deep executive experience, most recently as the CEO of IntelyCare, a strong track record of building high-performing teams, and a passion for mission-driven leadership. 

The Club’s Board of Directors were particularly impressed by John’s commitment to fostering a collaborative culture. Board Chairman Karen Guillaume said, “We are very excited to announce John as our new CEO. He brings with him a wealth of executive experience and a history of cultivating successful, collaborative teams. We can’t wait to see what the future of the Boys & Girls Club of Metro North looks like under John’s leadership!” 

John hopes to bring a fresh perspective to the nonprofit world through his years of professional experience. He is looking forward to this role and is inspired by the organization’s impact. John said, “I am inspired by the organization’s mission and the passion of its team. I look forward to guiding the Boys & Girls Club of Metro North through its next phase of growth and positive impact to the communities it serves.” 

Since changing its name from “Boys & Girls Club of Stoneham & Wakefield” to “Boys & Girls Club of Metro North” the club hopes to expand more into surrounding communities, allowing them to serve as many youth as possible. Board Member Jeff Johnson said, “We are excited to have John lead our ambitious Club objectives for the communities we serve. His past experience in building and expanding businesses and brands will serve us well as our own impact grows in the Metro North region.”

The organization is looking forward to the future with new CEO John Shagoury. Join the Boys & Girls Club of Metro North in welcoming John!

Adam Rodgers, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Metro North celebrates a 10 year career at the club as he steps down from the position. Over the last 10 years Adam has grown the organization from just “Boys & Girls Club of Stoneham” to now “Boys & Girls Club of Metro North” serving youth from Stoneham, Wakefield, Saugus, Melrose, and beyond.  

When Adam started back in 2015 the club had a $500,000 budget, two locations, 35 staff, and a total of 750 youth served per year. Today the organization has a $5 million budget, eight locations, 175 full and part-time staff, and serves over 8,000 youth per year.  Previous Board Chairman Kevin Mason who hired Adam back in 2015 acknowledges Adams’ role in building the club to what it is today. “Many folks have spent their time and effort to bring the club to where it is today, but Adam has been the workhorse and visionary, leading the charge. We are blessed to have had Adam for an amazing 10 years, he has left us in great shape to continue serving our communities moving forward.” 

He was able to transform a Boys & Girls Club struggling to stay afloat to a flourishing organization that not only serves local youth but also the community as a whole. Wakefield Club Founder George Getty said, “It was a true privilege to be able to watch Adam lead the Boys & Girls Club of Metro North. Adam always worked with humility and a desire to partner in any way possible to serve our youth. His work has impacted so many and I am grateful for his service to our communities.” 

Over the course of 10 years Adam has accomplished a number of goals that have created a safer space for local youth and community members. When it comes to serving youth, some of his biggest accomplishments include: establishing the Wakefield Club, increasing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) classes, expanding music, esports and athletic programing, bringing on mental health clinicians and opening Stoneham and Saugus teen centers. In regards to community outreach Adam has taken on a number of different initiatives including operating and renovating Hall Memorial Pool, partnering with the Stoneham Coalition and SAAV,  providing free meals to local families, teaching technology courses to seniors and opening INspire Cafe.  

Board Chairman Karen Guillaume expressed the board’s appreciation for these accomplishments. “We can’t thank Adam enough for his hard work and dedication over the last ten years. The Club now serves more families than ever before, thanks to his focus on program offerings and expansion into new communities. Adam’s vision has helped make these communities safer places for our kids.” 

Adam has truly embodied the Boys & Girls Club catch phrase of, “whatever it takes.” He has done whatever it takes to provide young people a safe place to learn, grow and succeed.  His impact and hard work will live on for generations of youth at the club. 

Join the Boys & Girls Club of Metro North celebrating Adam and a successful 10 years growing the Boys & Girls Club of Metro North!

Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month, and at the Boys & Girls Club we are celebrating the incredible women that make up our club! We sat down with a few of our female leaders, and spoke with them about inspiring women in their lives and for insight on some of the challenges young women at our clubs face today and how we can help them combat these challenges. Everyday we are inspired by the strong, intelligent and resilient females at our club. Learn more about a few of those women below!

Andrea Baez- Chief Program Officer for the Boys and Girls Club of Metro North

 Who is a woman that inspires you and why? “A woman that inspires me is my 16 year old daughter, as a young person, navigating how hard life is. Between, social media, social norms, school work, getting ready for college: she has her head screwed on straight. She is super focused, empathetic, kind, she is all the things that I wish I was as a young person.”

What advice would you give young women that come to our clubs today? “Stay off of social media. It is a lie. When I look at our young people, whether it’s young people in our clubs and programs, or young people that work with us I think that this generation, unfortunately, has a lot of outside pressures, and the more we can teach them to truly disconnect and disengage from social media, from phones, from technology, the better. A wise woman once said that comparison is the thief of joy. And I think that our young people, specifically, women, are always comparing themselves, whether it’s grades, status, size, what they look like. I would encourage young women to be present and focus on themselves.” 

What do you think is the biggest challenge that young girls face today? And how can we support them in these challenges? “I think it’s making sure that they have the right outside influences. There is so much misinformation in the world, it is so easy to get caught up in things that aren’t true. Whether it be a filter on a person that they think they need to look like a certain esthetic, or the perfect trip or perfect house or perfect room or the perfect outfit or this perfect, perfect that, perfect, perfect life. It’s not perfect. It is messy. And I think the more we can wrap our arms around young women and remind them that everybody is their own perfect mess, that they will feel more secure in themselves and their decision making.”

What advice would you give your younger self? “Talk less, listen more. Save your money, take the trip. The bank account will always replenish itself. Experiences will always be in your mind forever. And to look out for each other. Young women today do not have the lift as they climb mentality. So I think really going back to the foundations of how all of us gals got here and remembering the trail blazers that came before us.”

Alexis Croce- Stoneham Teen Center Director

Who is a woman that inspires you and why? “A woman that inspires me is Amy Croce. She has been a great mentor and leader, and she is truly my rock.”

What advice would you give young women that come to our clubs today? “To know your worth and to use your voice and to be confident with yourself.” 

What do you think is the biggest challenge that young girls face today? And how can we support them in these challenges? “I think the biggest challenge is social media and living up to an expectation that might not be real. People just need to live their own lives and not put timelines or expectations on themselves, and just live their truth.” 

What advice would you give your younger self? “To love yourself and to really just be confident with yourself and be proud of who you are.”

Rebecca Rowell- Director of the INspire Cafe Initiative 

Who is a woman that inspires you and why? “A woman that inspires me right now would be Congresswoman Sarah McBride. I think that Sarah McBride is an incredibly brave, strong individual, facing challenges with such grace in the face of adversity. I think that we could all take a page from her book when it comes to the grace that she carries, and the bravery that she shows every day.” 

What advice would you give to young girls who attend our clubs today? “I think the best advice that I could give is to be true to yourself and to do your best to be a good person to everybody around you and also to yourself. Also to prioritize being a good community member.”

What do you think is the biggest challenge that young girls face today? And how can we support them in these challenges? “I think the cultural demands of social media and the fact that everything is so instant. My advice would be to pay more attention to what’s going on right in front of you. The interactions you have with people that you see on a daily basis are so much more important. Try to find a balance of social media and modern technology in your life with all the other things you have going on.”

What advice would you give your younger self? “I would tell myself to take a little bit more time between high school and college before making a solid decision on what I want to do with the rest of my life. I think being so young it’s really unrealistic to know who you are going to be 10 or 20 years down the line. I would tell myself to find balance between career and prioritizing being in the moment.”

Paola Rodriguez- Front Desk Receptionist at the Stoneham Teen Center 

Who is a woman that inspires you and why?  “Definitely, my mom, because she shows me every day how strong she is, and no matter how tired she is, she always keeps going.”

What advice would you give young women that come to our clubs today?  “Don’t believe everything you see on social media. Love yourself to the fullest. I feel like nowadays, social media has taken that away.  With some of the younger girls that I’ve seen, I feel like social media can cause them to have low self esteem, and it’s just not okay.”

What advice would you give your younger self?  “I would let her know how proud she should be of herself and that she has come such a long way. I would tell her to love herself. It’s definitely worth it when you learn how to love yourself. Know your worth. And know that you’re going to be happy.”

Megan Sambroski: Director of Development at INspire Cafe

Who is a woman that inspires you and why? “My two daughters (age 10 +12). I love how different they are and the unique perspective they bring to the world as young women. I admire their confidence and the care they put into the things they love. They inspire me to be a better person.” 

What advice would you give young women that come to our clubs today? “Try new things, even when it scares you! You will never regret trying something new, but you will regret not trying. Do your best to harness the confidence to try something that sparks your interest outside of your friend group and expand your circle. You will be surprised at the things that stick for you!”

What do you think is the biggest challenge that young girls face today? And how can we support them in these challenges? “Self esteem seems to be a big challenge, but that is nothing new. I love supporting programs in our clubs and community that build up self confidence and empower young girls with the tools to be successful and advocate for themselves.”

What advice would you give your younger self?   “I would tell my younger self that there will be challenges ahead, but they are all there to teach you something. Be patient with yourself- whatever is meant to be will find its way to you.”

Want to help us continue to empower young women? Donate today! https://www.classy.org/give/638305/#!/donation/checkout

Program recognizes local Boys & Girls Club boards of directors for superior commitment to their Clubs.

Stoneham– (February 12, 2025) – Today, Boys & Girls Club of Metro North announces that it has been honored with the Bronze award in Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s League of EAGLES Organizational Recognition Program. This award recognizes local Boys & Girls Club affiliate organizations whose boards of directors have demonstrated strong engagement and superior commitment to their Clubs. The League of EAGLES program measures six key elements of a “strong board of directors,” which includes at least 75% of individual board members achieving the following:

Engagement: Engaged and attend board meetings

Ask: Ask others face-to-face for funding

Give: Give back by making a personal financial gift

Lead: Lead the organization to achieving strategic initiatives

Evaluate: Evaluate their individual board performance based on a personal plan

Serve: Serving actively on committees or task forces of the organization

“We are thrilled to honor this year’s League of EAGLES award recipients,” said Jim Clark, president & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Reaching this milestone is a testament to the dedication of each organization’s board of directors and executive leadership to serving the youth in their community at the highest level.” orth ac

Boys & Girls Club of Metro North has been building pillars in the local community and across Greater Boston for nearly 50 years, providing an array of art, stem, athletic, music and educational programming to over 3,000 youth across 7 locations after school and throughout the summer. To earn the Bronze award, Boys & Girls Club of Metro North achieved Bronze: 85% to 89% of the League of EAGLES program performance standards.

“We are honored to have received  this Bronze League of  Eagles award. We are beyond grateful to have such a dedicated board of directors supporting our clubs and our many initiatives every step of the way,” said CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Metro North, Adam Rodgers. 

To learn more about Boys & Girls Club of Metro North and to join us in supporting kids and teens, please visit bgcmetronorth.org. For more information about the League of Eagles award, visit bgcaboards.org.

Exciting New Activities & Registration Details Coming Soon

Stoneham, MA –February 2025 – After a successful first year, Open Parks Free Summer Program is returning for its 2nd year, bringing another season of outdoor fun, adventure, and community engagement! Running weekdays from July 7 to August 22, this program offers children an exciting lineup of new activities in a safe and engaging environment.

“We are thrilled to bring Open Parks back for another summer,” said Andrea Baez, Chief Program Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Metro North. “This program has been an incredible opportunity for kids to explore, learn, and enjoy the outdoors, and we can’t wait to share what’s in store for this year.”

Registration details will be announced soon, so families are encouraged to stay tuned for updates. Open Parks is designed to provide free, inclusive recreational activities that promote active play and creativity for children in the community.

For more information and upcoming registration details, visit bgcstoneham.org/openparks2025/.

About Open Parks Summer Camp: The Open Parks program includes free to attend classes and workshops held throughout the summer at the South School in Stoneham, MA. Following the morning classes, free lunches will also be provided as part of the Boys & Girls Club Summer Eats program.

This exciting collaboration between local businesses and organizations have provided activities such as theater workshops taught by Greater Boston Stage Company, safety and prevention classes with Stoneham Police and Fire Departments, arts and crafts with the Stoneham Senior Center, film production with Stoneham Public Access Television, as well as special event hikes with The Fells, and more!

For questions regarding Open Parks 2025, please contact [email protected].

On Thursday January 16th, the Boys & Girls Club of Metro North hosted Representative Micheal Day, Representative Katherine Lipper-Garbedian, and Senator Jason Lewis at their Stoneham Clubhouse to thank them for their continued support of the clubs. The visit consisted of a tour around the facility, a check presentation, coffee and muffins from INspire Cafe and a parting gift. 

While touring the facility they learned about a number of different programs the club offers including art, STEM, athletics and more. They were able to get a closer look at where their state aid is being utilized in the club and the impact they have had on this community. 

Chief Development Officer Anthony Guardia said,  “Our Boys & Girls Club of Metro North is fortunate to have partners on Beacon Hill that understand every government grant invested in ours Clubs is just that, an investment. The University of Michigan’s School of Public Health found that for every dollar donated to our Clubs the return on investment is $9.60. This is through cost-savings in the communities we serve and future earnings. Together, investment by government, investment by private foundations, and investment by the public, we have created a social safety net that has helped thousands and will hopefully last generations.”

The Representatives have supported the clubs through an array of different state grants. Each of these grants supports different initiatives at the clubs. These grants compiled together totaled $811,30. The Boys and Girls Club express their gratitude for their State Representatives providing them with this financial support to better their clubs and community.

Santa will begin his route at the Boys & Girls Club of Wakefield. He will be departing the club at 6:15 and is expected to finish his route by 6:45. He will travel down Main St towards the lake, take a left onto Church St, travel down North Ave and then turn on to Armory St making his way back to the Wakefield Club. At the end of the route join Santa and the Boys & Girls Club for an evening of holiday fun from 6:30-8:00 PM. 

Santa’s Sleigh will take place December 19th at the Americal Civic Center/ Boys & Girls Club of Wakefield at 467 Main St. The Gym at the Americal Civic Center will be open from 6:30-8pm for activities. This event is open to all Wakefield residents. 

On October 25th, Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield announced at their annual Bill Chetwynd Memorial Gala that their name will change to Boys & Girls Club of Metro North. Changing their name to Boys & Girls Club of Metro North opens the doors to a number of opportunities in surrounding communities.  

CEO of the organization Adam Rogers expressed his gratitude for the new name at the event, “This evening is especially significant for us as it marks the first time we’re proudly introducing ourselves as the Boys & Girls Club of Metro North. A name we hope reflects our deep commitment to all the communities and youth across our region. Just as we did over 50 years ago in Stoneham and 11 years ago in Wakefield, we’re excited to be embarking on this new journey.”  

The organization has begun planting roots into the new communities they hope to serve. This includes the newest Saugus Teen Center, “The Club” located in the Square One Mall. Additionally, they’ve been involved in the Melrose community through an array of programs including “Summer Eats,” a free summer meal program, Community Boating at Ell Pond, and more.

The Boys & Girls Club of Metro North hopes  to continue to open clubs in these areas as well as build relationships with these communities allowing them to serve as many youth as possible.   

Lynnfield, MA: MarketStreet, the popular outdoor shopping property located in the heart of Lynnfield,  paid homage to iconic North Shore spots in Putt ‘N Play, a pop-up mini golf experience with all proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield. The nine hole mini golf course took place from August 12th to September 2nd and raised $9,226. Custom designed holes included a miniature version of the famous orange dinosaur in Saugus, iconic route 1 signage, Revere Beach sandcastle replicas, and so much more. The nostalgic and captivating course offered guests an enjoyable summer activity for the whole family to enjoy while supporting a great cause. 

“Putt ‘N Play was such a standout activity this summer at MarketStreet! We saw families, friends and area co-workers alike join in on all the fun. We’re overjoyed about the funds raised as we know they’ll have a direct impact on the Boys & Girls Club of Stoneham and Wakefield and the children they serve,” said Charlotte Woods, General Manager of MarketStreet. 

Anthony Guardia, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield’s Chief Development Officer, spoke highly of Market Street and their community efforts. “This is just another example of the amazing generosity of our friends at Market Street and WS Development. This $10,000.00 will help underserved children in our service area, start the school year off right.” 

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield, an organization providing childcare and programming for local youth, understands the importance of providing youth and families with enriching activities and opportunities in local spaces. Guardia said, “In addition, this event brought together so many families for fun filled days throughout the Summer. Memories like the ones had here cannot be replicated. Family memories, helping young people, and bolstering the local economy is what Market Street and WS Development is obviously all about. We are lucky to have them as friends.” 

MarketStreet in Lynnfield and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield look forward to working together on more projects in the future and hope community members enjoyed this summers Put ‘N Play mini golf! 

About MarketStreet

MarketStreet is the North Shore’s award-winning premium open-air shopping destination boasting over 90 shops and restaurants, over 20 of which are locally owned. Since its 2013 opening, it has become essential to the North Shore community, both for its diverse shopping, dining and entertainment options and for its dedication to family friendly events, seasonal festivities, and charitable fundraisers.  Awarded “Best Shopping Complex, North” by Boston Magazine’s Best of Boston issue, the property features such leading brands as Whole Foods Market, AllModern, Kings Dining & Entertainment, Tommy Bahama, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse, Apple, lululemon, Anthropologie, Marine Layer, gorjana, Nike, Yard House, Legal C Bar, sweetgreen, Pink Parkway, PNC Bank, and Madewell. Located at 600 Market St. in Lynnfield, MA (Exit 61 on I-95), MarketStreet is developed and leased by leading Massachusetts commercial developer WS Development. For more information and the most recent updates, please visit Instagram and Facebook and follow @marketstreetlynnfield on www.marketstreetlynnfield.com