St. Louis, MO – Jaelyn, a teen member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis – Bethalto Club, is excited to attend Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California this Sunday, February 8, 2026 after demonstrating outstanding leadership and advocacy in her community.
Through Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Think, Learn, Create Change (TLC) program, teens learn how to advocate for social justice issues that matter to them and their communities. To build these skills, BGCA partnered with the NFL’s Inspire Change social justice initiative to create the Inspire Change Badge Challenge, which empowers young people to lead real community projects through their local Boys & Girls Club.
This year, Jaelyn was among three teens who completed the challenge and were selected as “Champions of Change” to receive a free trip to Super Bowl weekend, including tickets to the game and access to events like the Super Bowl Experience. Jaelyn represents Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, alongside Sinai from Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gila River Indian Community and LJ from Boys & Girls Clubs of West Alabama. 
Details on Jaelyn’s Project:
- At Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto, Jaelyn and her peers designed their TLC project, “Who You Are Matters,” centered on positive self-talk and mental health awareness. The teens created a positive affirmation wall, distributed mental health awareness bracelets, and collaborated with other Boys & Girls Clubs in St. Louis to expand the project during summer camps. Their efforts provided young people with tools and confidence to advocate for mental wellness in their community.
Quotes from Jaelyn:
- “My friends and I at the Club picked mental health for our TLC project because we think it’s something that most people don’t talk about enough.”
- “We want our community to know that if they’re struggling, there are people to talk. We set up a positive affirmation board at the Club for kids to add to – my favorite affirmation to tell myself is that I’m confident which helps me be more outgoing.
- “It’s important for teens to speak up because we have a voice. Participating in TLC and being a youth advocate has given me more confidence. I was surprised when I won the Inspire Change Challenge and found out I was going to the Super Bowl. I’m so excited to bring my mom!”
Quotes from Anna Isaacsoon, SVP of Social Responsibility, NFL
- “The NFL Foundation has a responsibility to use the power of our platform to create opportunity for the next generation,”
- “Through our longstanding partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, we’re empowering young people to be advocates for themselves and their communities. Together, we’re helping youth build a champion mindset rooted in confidence, leadership, and perseverance to shape their futures on or off the field.”
To learn more:
Beyond individual events like the Super Bowl, Boys & Girls Clubs of America continues to expand opportunities for young people to engage in sports, wellness and leadership development through ongoing collaborations with corporate supporters. To learn more about upcoming youth sports and wellness initiatives, visit www.bgca.org/about-us/a-generation-of-champions.
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