At Youth Enrichment Services (YES), empowering young people means more than just outdoor adventures—it’s about building confidence, developing leadership, and creating opportunities where none existed before.
YES works to overcome financial, cultural, and accessibility barriers to introduce youth—primarily from the neighborhoods of Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, and Jamaica Plain—to activities like skiing, biking, rock climbing, and track and field. Through these experiences, kids gain skills, confidence, and the belief that they belong in spaces they once thought were out of reach.
But growing this impact takes connection—and that’s where Rodman for Kids comes in.
“When I came here, one of the things I’d say is, “This is a great model, it really works, but we can do so much more.” And I think partnerships with places like Rodman for Kids has allowed us to say “This is not a vision. This is reality.” shared Bryan Van Dorpe, Executive Director of YES.
Through the Rodman Ride for Kids and the collaborative network it fosters, YES has:
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Moved kids off long program waitlists
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Scaled up programming with new summer sites in South Boston and Jamaica Plain
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Expanded winter trips, including skiing—a sport often out of financial reach
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Grown partnerships with other nonprofits tackling similar challenges, even exchanging capital campaign strategies
“Although we knew each other, we wouldn’t have been brought to the table if not for the meetings and collaboration with Rodman,” Bryan explained.
Rodman for Kids connects organizations, creates space for shared growth, and empowers nonprofits to dream bigger and reach farther.
With Rodman for Kids’ support, YES is not only scaling its programs but also building a new home base through a capital campaign—ensuring even more young people can benefit from transformative outdoor experiences for years to come.