What a night! Our August Harvest Dinner on 8/30 brought together neighbors, friends, and food lovers for an unforgettable evening atop Sky Farm LIC.

As the sun set over the city, guests gathered on the rooftop for an evening filled with great food, refreshing drinks, and even better company. There's something special about breaking bread together under the open sky and this night captured that spirit perfectly.

A Sweet Start: Honey Tasting with Astor Apiaries

We were thrilled to welcome Nick Hoefly of Astor Apiaries, who led guests through a fascinating honey-tasting experience. From flavor profiles to the incredible work bees do for our ecosystem, Nick's expertise added a rich, educational touch to the evening. 🍯

A Feast to Remember: Rethink Food

The night's menu was brought to life by the team at Rethink Food with Marlow Bistro, who crafted a delicious family-style meal showcasing fresh, seasonal ingredients. Every dish told a story of the season vibrant, thoughtful, and made to be shared. 🌱

Community, Connection, and Gratitude

More than anything, this dinner was about togetherness. From the laughter around the table to the new connections made under the stars, it was a beautiful reminder of what makes our community at Sky Farm LIC so special.

We're endlessly grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a success. 💛

Cheers to more memories like this on the farm and stay tuned for what's next via Instagram @skyfarmlic

Check out Summer camp, our first long table dinner at Sky Farm and more!

July was a fun filled month, check out why!

From the Teen Center to the New York State Stage

Some journeys start small — in a classroom, a gym, a teen center — and grow into something extraordinary. That's exactly the story of Gabriel Santini, who has just been named New York State Youth of the Year.

It's a huge honor, and one that's richly deserved.

A Role Model in Every Sense

Gabriel embodies everything we hope to see in a Boys & Girls Club teen: leadership, dedication, humility, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. He shows up for his peers, for his community, and for himself, day after day.

While maintaining a 4.0 GPA, Gabriel has also led with honesty, confidence, and passion — qualities that have made him a true role model, not just within our Club, but far beyond it.

Recognizing the Work Behind the Win

Titles like this don't happen overnight. Behind Gabriel's achievement are countless hours of hard work, personal sacrifice, and steady determination. This award is a reflection of everything he has poured into becoming the young leader he is today.

Proud Beyond Words

We couldn't be prouder to see Gabriel represent Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens — and the entire state of New York — on the regional stage.

This is a milestone worth celebrating, but for Gabriel, it's just the beginning. The future is bright, and we can't wait to see where he goes next.

June was a busy month for VBGCQ! Check it all out!

This past Saturday, June 20th, the sun was shining and so was our community. We hosted our VBGCQ Beacon Spring Health Fair at IS 10, and it turned out to be exactly the kind of day we hoped for.

Throughout the event, families had the chance to connect with local vendors and community partners, picking up valuable health resources and wellness information along the way. Our students also took the stage with performances that had everyone cheering, adding even more energy to an already lively afternoon.

What made the day special wasn't just the sunshine. It was seeing so many people come together in one place, from vendors and performers to neighbors and families, all there to support each other and learn something new.

We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who played a part in making this happen: our vendors, our community partners, our performers, and every single person who showed up. Events like this only work because of people like you.

Here's to building a healthier, more connected community, one event at a time.

See what has been happening at VBGCQ this month!

Meet out DLR Group runners and learn more about them!

At VBCGQ, we are incredibly proud of our growing relationship with DLR Group, the visionary architecture firm behind the design of our exciting new clubhouse. DLR has taken the time to understand who we are, what we value, and what our community means to us.

This year, members of the DLR team will be running the TCS New York City Marathon on behalf of VBCGQ. We love that the same people designing our new home are out there running for our club. We are so grateful!

To support our runners and the future of VBCGQ, donate today!

The Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens (VBGCQ) and NineDot Energy have come together to unveil something special in Astoria. The NineDot Energy Tech & Clean Energy Lab is a state-of-the-art space designed to bring STEM learning and clean energy education to the Club's Teen Center. Funded through a major contribution from NineDot Energy, the lab is equipped with high-performance computers, workstations, and interactive technology, giving young people the tools to explore career pathways in battery storage, renewable energy, and grid modernization.

But the lab is just part of the story. A stunning community mural, designed collaboratively by Club youth and Queens-born artist Fernando "Ski" Romero, now anchors the space. It tells the story of Astoria's evolution from a neighborhood rooted in fossil fuel infrastructure to one embracing a cleaner, more sustainable future. For Romero, a native of Astoria himself, the project was deeply personal and a chance to inspire the next generation through art.

NineDot's investment also includes an annual Clean Energy Summit, connecting Club members directly with industry professionals and real-world applications of sustainable technology. For VBGCQ, which serves more than 5,000 young people annually, the partnership represents a long-term commitment to expanding access, opportunity, and a seat at the table in New York's growing clean energy economy.

On April 26th, the Queens Culture & Arts Network (QCAN), a division of the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens, proudly presented a sold-out performance of HITCity at Queens Theatre. The event marked a jubilant celebration of 60 years of Motown, drawing a vibrant crowd of arts patrons and community members eager to honor the legendary sounds that shaped generations. \

The evening was a joyful tribute to Motown’s enduring legacy, as audience members reveled in the spirit of togetherness and nostalgia. The excitement was palpable throughout the venue, with patrons united by a shared love of music and a sense of community that transcended age and background.

HITCity’s high-energy renditions of The Temptations’ iconic hits captivated the crowd, featuring spot-on vocals and dynamic choreography that brought the classics to life. The performers’ artistry and passion were met with standing ovations and enthusiastic applause.

The event was graced by distinguished guests, including Tony Award winner Jessie Mueller (Beautiful), Broadway luminaries Stephanie Pope (Chicago, Pippin, Fosse), Bobby Harden (New York’s soul man and member of The Blues Brothers), and Broadway musical arranger Chapman Roberts (Smokey Joe’s Café, Five Guys Named Moe). Also in attendance were the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens Board President Naltzer Sanchez, Chief Executive Director Costa Constantinides, and QCAN’s Executive Director Susan Agin, whose leadership continues to elevate the borough’s cultural landscape.

Reflecting on the event, Susan Agin remarked, “The arts have a profound healing power, and tonight’s celebration was a testament to how music can bring people together and uplift our spirits. The atmosphere in the theatre was electric—filled with joy and hope. No one wanted to leave.”

QCAN and the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens extend their heartfelt gratitude to all attendees, supporters, and artists who made the HITCity performance a resounding success. As the organization looks forward to future events, it remains committed to fostering community connection and celebrating the transformative influence of the arts in Queens.

Sky Farm LIC Is Back — and Better Than Ever 🌱

On April 23rd, the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens officially kicked off a new season at Sky Farm LIC with an Opening Day celebration on the rooftop of the historic Standard Motors building in Long Island City. And this year, the farm got a major upgrade.

Thanks to a generous investment from the New York Power Authority, Sky Farm LIC now features a brand-new greenhouse, a temperature-controlled high tunnel, an enclosed wash and pack station, expanded irrigation, new walkway pavers, and a fully-equipped indoor Educational Center for cooking classes, energy education, and art activities. These improvements will help the farm build on an already impressive 2025 season, during which it grew over 4,500 pounds of fresh produce for VBGCQ families and served more than 1,200 community members.

But the upgrades were only part of what made the day so special. Opening Day was everything we hoped it would be, and that's because of the incredible people who showed up.

To our sponsors and partners, including Con Edison and Hydro-Quebec Energy Services, thank you. Your belief in this work and this community means more than words can say. None of this happens without you. To our amazing staff, thank you for your tireless dedication and hard work in making this day a reality. This space exists because of you. And to everyone who came out, joined a class, and celebrated this milestone with us. Thank you for being part of this moment. Seeing this space filled with energy and excitement reminded us exactly why we do what we do.

Our amazing IS 10 students lit up the stage with a beautiful multicultural performance full of pride, creativity, and joy! So proud of these young stars for sharing their heritage and bringing us all together!

Watch the speeches here!

Gabriel Santini, a proud member of the Teen Center at Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens, was recently honored at Borough President Donovan Richards' 1st Annual Youth Empowerment Awards at Queens Borough Hall.

Gabriel continues to represent what leadership, excellence, and dedication look like—both in and out of the Club. This recognition reflects the impact he is making every day and the standard he sets for his peers.

We are incredibly proud to celebrate this moment with Gabriel. The future is bright—and it's moments like these that remind us why this work matters.

We are thrilled to announce that the NHL and NHLPA are investing in the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens through the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund, helping fund the construction of our brand-new Clubhouse and Center Rink. Yes, you read that right. A brand-new rink. Right here in Western Queens. Built for our kids.

What This Means for Our Community

For over 70 years, VBGCQ has been a home away from home for the young people of Western Queens. We've watched kids walk through our doors as shy first-graders and walk out as confident, capable young adults. We've seen families lean on us during hard times and celebrate with us during good ones. And through it all, we've dreamed of giving our community a space worthy of everything they deserve.

That dream just got a whole lot closer to reality.

With the support of the NHL and NHLPA, over 16,000 of our youth will soon have access to a facility built just for them, a place where they can skate, play, learn, grow, and belong. The new Clubhouse and Center Rink isn't just a building. It's a statement: that these kids matter, that this community matters, and that investing in them is always the right call.

Why This Partnership Matters

The NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund was created to grow the game of hockey and strengthen the communities it touches. We are incredibly proud to be part of that mission. Hockey has the power to bring people together across all backgrounds, and we can't wait to introduce a new generation of Western Queens kids to the sport and to all the teamwork, discipline, and joy that comes with it.

We believe every child deserves access to world-class opportunities, regardless of their zip code. This partnership is proof that others believe that too.

Thank You, NHL and NHLPA

To the NHL and NHLPA: thank you for seeing our kids the way we see them, full of potential, full of talent, and worthy of every investment. Your belief in our community means more than words can express, and we promise to honor it every single day.

Want to learn more about the new Clubhouse and Center Rink? Stay tuned for updates, or reach out to us at info@bgcqueens.org. Together, we're building something extraordinary.

At the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens, our mission has always been simple — show up for the young people in our community, every single day. In 2025, that commitment reached a milestone we are incredibly proud of: serving 5,000 youth right here in Queens.

This number is more than a statistic. It represents 5,000 young people who had a safe place to go after school, access to resources that helped them grow, and a community that believed in them. It represents late nights, early mornings, and the countless hours put in by our dedicated staff and volunteers who never waver in their commitment to our kids.

None of this would be possible without the families who trust us with their children, the community members who champion our mission, and the donors and partners who make our programs possible. You are the backbone of everything we do.

As we look ahead, we are more motivated than ever. This milestone is not a finish line — it is a launching pad. We remain committed to serving even more youth in the years ahead, because every child in Queens deserves a place to learn, grow, and thrive.

Thank you, Queens. This one belongs to all of us. 💙

March flew by, can you agree? Check out NYC marathon updates, a visit from Erik Coleman, animal shelter visit, Sky Farm opening day, QCAN events, and much more!

We are beyond excited and honored to share that VBGCQ is officially a TCS NYC Marathon charity partner! This fall three dedicated runners will be hitting the pavement for our programs and community. This is just the beginning — stay tuned for updates! Check our Instagram @vbgcqueens for updates! 💙🏃‍♂️

Big things are happening across Queens! From our Astoria Clubhouse redevelopment to becoming an official TCS NYC Marathon charity partner, February was packed with exciting news. Read our full newsletter to catch up!