Long History, Close Connections – Gillette & Edgerley Family South Boston Boys & Girls Club
by Harry Duvall, Executive Director of the Edgerley Family South Boston Club
Gillette and the Edgerley Family South Boston Boys & Girls Club have a long history of productive partnerships that dates back decades. With Gillette’s World Shaving Headquarters located adjacent to A Street and W 2nd Street on the western edge of South Boston, Gillette has long been a community employer and supporter of the Club. The partnership between the Edgerley Family South Boston Club and Gillette has been especially close in the past decade and outstanding the past year.
With encouragement from Gillette leaders, the Club successfully applied for a $20,000 grant from parent company P&G. The grant was for Health360SB, focusing on health, wellness and, most importantly, social-emotional learning.
Gillette is a reliable sponsor and attendee of the Club’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon, and despite a city “snow day,” they came through for the Club again in March 2018.
For years, Gillette has supported dozens of South Boston agencies in the fight against substance abuse and for prevention and building strengths. The Great Start grants, originally the HOPE grant, are administered via the South Boston Association of Non-Profits; our Club’s Passport to Manhood program was again funded thanks to it this year.
As part of the World Champs Beard Shave Off, Red Sox player and 2018 World Series MVP Steve Pearce had his playoff beard shaved off at Gillette’s World Shaving Headquarters. In his honor, Gillette donated an incredible $50,000 to the Edgerley Family South Boston Club. As a part of the Superbowl Beard Shave Off, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had his beard shaved off, in his honor Gillette donated an amazing $35,000 to Edgerley Family South Boston Club.
When BGCB thinks of Gillette’s volunteerism and engagement with our Club we are grateful. Partners like Gillette help us help the kids that need us most.
