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THE BRIDGE

2025-2026 PROGRAM IMPACT SNAPSHOT

EVERY CHILD DESERVES MORE THAN A SCHOOL DAY

Across Los Angeles County, families are sending a clear message: they want more opportunities for their children beyond the traditional school day.

88.9%

Attendance Rate Thriving Under The Influence

224 E.E. Just Saturday Science Program Registrations in 2026 Up 52% from last year.

According to the recently released America After 3PM study, more than 1.4 million Los Angeles County parents want their children enrolled in quality afterschool and expanded learning programs, yet only about 483,000 students currently participate. That means nearly two out of every three children who could benefit from these opportunities are not enrolled.

32 of 36 students attended across 15 sessions.

This gap represents more than a shortage of programs— it represents unrealized potential.

For many young people, especially those attending Title I schools and living in historically underserved communities, the hours outside of school are where confidence is built, interests are discovered, and futures begin to take shape. High-quality out-of-school programming provides safe environments where students receive academic support, develop leadership skills, strengthen social-emotional learning, explore STEM careers, and build meaningful relationships with caring adults.

143 Scholars Network Participants 42 Start-2-Finish Scholarship Applicants for 2026

Connecting Youth, Families, Education, and Opportunity.

• CSU Monterey Bay Summer Marine Program

• UCSD / Scripps Summer Marine Science Program

• E.E. Just Youth Summer Marine Science Program

Bridge Builders Foundation was founded on the belief that every young person deserves access to opportunity, regardless of zip code or circumstance. Today, BBF serves more than 2,000 unduplicated youth annually, with over 900 scholars participating in recurring year-round programs that include mentoring, STEM education, workforce development, financial capability, leadership development, scholarships, and college readiness.

“When the school day ends,

Providing transformative university experience and STEM exposure.

Demand for these services continues to grow. Every year we expand programming, yet waiting lists remain. This growing need is one of the driving forces behind our vision for a permanent Community Leadership and Innovation Center—a place where youth, families, educators, employers, and community organizations can come together to learn, collaborate, and create opportunity.

Education doesn't stop when school dismisses. Neither should opportunity.

Through STEM education, mentorship, and college readiness programs, Bridge Builders Foundation is expanding

SUMMER STEM CAMPS Inspire Tomorrow’s Innovators

Summer is often where inspiration begins.

Foundation is providing 140 young people with residential STEM learning experiences spanning 21 days of education and 18 overnight stays across some of California’s leading universities and research institutions.

Our students are not simply touring campuses—they are living, learning, experimenting, and exploring alongside scientists, researchers, university faculty, and industry professionals.

At USC, students will participate in a five-day residential Engineering, Architecture, and Urban Planning experience, exploring how communities are designed, built, and reimagined.

At UC San Diego and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, students will spend five days immersed in marine science— learning from researchers, exploring laboratories, and examining the science of our oceans and coastal environments.

Our six-day Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz experience will connect students with learning opportunities involving UC Santa Cruz, CSU Monterey Bay, Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Station, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)—placing young people in one of the world’s most dynamic centers for marine science and ocean research.

Our younger scientists will participate in a multi-week experience that includes hands-on learning with the CSULB Shark Lab and culminates in a three-day, two-night residential capstone at UC Santa Barbara.

Together, these experiences represent one of BBF’s most ambitious summer learning initiatives to date:

140 Campers

21 Days of education

18 Nights of residential learning

For many of our students, these experiences are their first opportunity to live on a university campus, enter a research laboratory, work alongside scientists, or imagine themselves pursuing careers in engineering, architecture, marine science, technology, medicine, and other fields that will shape our future.

At BBF, we believe exposure should lead to access, access should lead to opportunity, and opportunity should create pathways to achievement and mobility.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the universities, researchers, corporations, foundations, community partners, and individual supporters who make these experiences possible. Together, we are doing more than introducing young people to STEM.

We are helping them see where they belong—and preparing them to get there.

BRIDGE BUILDERS STEM OPPORTUNITIES:

o 3 Partnerships with leading colleges and universities

o 3

Residential and day STEM programs

o 3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) exploration

o 3 Marine Science research experiences

o 3 Engineering and Health Sciences pathways

o 3 Hundreds of students engaged annually

BUILDING OPPORTUNITY TOGETHER

Partnerships with LAUSD and LBUSD Continue to Grow

As students return to school this fall, Bridge Builders Foundation is proud to continue expanding our partnerships with both the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Long Beach Unified School District.

Strong schools become even stronger when community organizations work alongside educators to provide students with additional opportunities for learning, mentoring, leadership development, and career exploration.

Throughout the coming school year, BBF will continue delivering weekly mentoring, STEM enrichment, mathematics instruction, financial capability education, college and career readiness programming, workforce development, leadership development, scholarships, and family engagement activities designed to complement classroom instruction.

These partnerships are rooted in a simple belief: every child deserves access to opportunities that prepare them not only to graduate from high school, but to succeed in college, careers, and life.

Together with school administrators, teachers, counselors, university partners, employers, volunteers, and community organizations, we are building stronger educational pathways that empower students to reach their full potential.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Communities become stronger when every generation invests in the next.

Some of the most meaningful relationships in a young person's life are formed through caring adults who consistently mentor, coach, teach, and encourage. At the same time, older adults often discover renewed purpose by sharing their experience, wisdom, and leadership with younger generations.

In communities of color, where relationships and cultural traditions have long served as sources of strength and resilience, multigenerational engagement is far more than volunteerism—it is community building.

In Los Angeles County's SPA 6, where many Black and Brown communities continue to face longstanding inequities, multi-age mentoring and volunteer role models are especially important. They connect young people with trusted adults who provide culturally affirming guidance, encouragement, expanded networks, and exposure to possibilities that may otherwise seem beyond reach.

88.9%

Attendance Rate

Thriving Under The Influence

32 of 36 students attended across 15 sessions.

224 E.E. Just Saturday Science Program Registrations in 2026 Up 52% from last year.

Bridge Builders Foundation helps meet this need through year-round mentoring, STEM education, scholarships, workforce development, financial capability, and leadership programs that prepare youth for college, careers, and civic leadership. We also welcome volunteers who serve as mentors, tutors, chaperones, career speakers, subject matter experts, and community advocates.

By pairing youth with caring adults in supportive, culturally responsive environments, BBF strengthens belonging, resilience, confidence, and pro-social development while complementing academic learning and expanding pathways toward lifelong success.

Whether you are a college student, educator, business leader, retiree, faith leader, entrepreneur, or simply someone who wants to make a difference, your knowledge, experience, and encouragement can change a young person's life.

143 Scholars Network Participants

42 Start-2-Finish Scholarship Applicants for 2026