Boys & Girls Club Blog

October 19, 2026

Ribbon-cutting celebration, supported by a $45,000 Panda Cares Foundation grant, brings modern furniture, technology and fresh design to the Club’s elementary-age classroom

The Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh celebrated the grand opening of its Panda Cares Center of Hope Friday, Oct. 16, with a ceremony and ribbon cutting at the Club on Parkway Avenue. Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh leaders and Club members were joined by partners from Panda Express in Oshkosh to unveil the renovated classroom.

The Center of Hope, formerly a more traditional and inflexible classroom, is now a modern, multipurpose, convertible space for elementary-school-aged Club members. It features a new large screen, new tablets, flexible furniture, bright, energetic wall treatments and technology more relevant to how students learn today. The classroom transformation is supported by a $45,000 Panda Cares Foundation grant.

“The Center of Hope gives our youngest members a space that tells them they matter and that their learning is worth investing in. We are deeply grateful to the Panda Cares Foundation and our partners at Panda Express in Oshkosh for believing in the kids of this community,” said Tracy Ogden, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh.

The celebration began at 2:15 p.m. with welcome remarks in the E.W. Wyman Gymnasium, followed by the ribbon cutting in the adjacent Center of Hope classroom. After the ceremony, Club members enjoyed a meal provided by Panda Express, hands-on activities and tours of the new space.

“Panda Cares has helped us breathe life back into the space. It is relevant to our kids and how they learn today,” said Susan Tesch, BGCO director of academics. “The environment is vibrant. There’s a touch of whimsy and wonder. Our members will be engaged.”

Panda Cares is the philanthropic arm of Panda Restaurant Group, parent company of Panda Express, and is a partner of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The Center of Hope grand opening celebrates the partnership among Panda Cares, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh.

Panda Cares aims to reach 200 Panda Cares Centers of Hope in Boys & Girls Clubs across the country this year, marking the halfway point to the organization’s goal of 400 in Clubs by 2030.