CHICAGO, Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) has partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to enable kids to achieve great futures. A supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs since 2009, ADM announced today a $1 million commitment to BGCA's Great Futures Campaign. The Campaign calls attention to the crisis facing kids by elevating the role of out-of-school time in reversing the most negative trends facing the nation's youth - including obesity, poor academic performance and character issues.

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"At Boys & Girls Clubs, we believe that every young person in America deserves a great future and that ensuring a safe, productive place for them to spend out-of-school time is a vital, yet overlooked, factor," said Jim Clark, President and CEO for BGCA. "Through the support of partners like ADM we are able to further our mission of enabling all kids, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential."

Through the Campaign, BGCA will grow the impact of its programs through increased membership and attendance, and building the capacity of Clubs to provide a world-class experience for kids. BGCA will also develop new programs to close the achievement gap for kids most in need. It will expand programs like Summer Brain Gain to prevent summer learning loss, enhance STEM programs to nurture 21(st) century skills and deploy a robust teen engagement strategy to ensure more young adults are on track to graduate from high school, college- or career-ready.

"ADM strives to make a positive difference in the communities where we live and work, and we understand that helping today's youth make positive, healthy lifestyle choices is critical to strengthening our communities," said ADM Chairman and CEO Patricia Woertz. "We are pleased to contribute to the Great Futures Campaign to help the BGCA support and guide school-age children and prepare them to be productive members of our nation's future workforce."

BGCA's vision is that all Club members graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and leading a healthy lifestyle. The Campaign represents a strategic step in realizing this vision by achieving the following outcomes:


    --  Globally Competitive Graduates: By 2018, Clubs will help 1.4 million
        teens stay on track to graduate from high school; and 70 percent of Club
        seniors will be college bound. The power of Club teens on track to
        graduate by 2018: an estimated $8 billion in economic impact to the U.S.
    --  21(st) Century Leaders: By 2018, 1.2 million Club teens will volunteer
        at least 6 million hours, resulting in a minimum $70 million economic
        impact in our communities.
    --  Healthier Generation: By 2018, Club youth will participate in 4 billion
        hours of physical activity, and Clubs will serve more than 500 million
        meals or snacks to young people in need.

The donation was given through ADM Cares. ADM Cares is a social investment program that directs funds to initiatives and organizations that drive meaningful social, economic and environmental progress worldwide. The program comprises three distinct focus areas: supporting the responsible development of agriculture, improving the quality of life in ADM communities, and fostering employee giving and volunteer activities.

For more information about the Great Futures Campaign, visit greatfutures.org or #GreatFutures.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
 For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.

About ADM
For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve vital needs. Today, 31,000 ADM employees around the globe convert oilseeds, corn, wheat and cocoa into products for food, animal feed, industrial and energy uses. With more than 270 processing plants, 470 crop procurement facilities, and the world's premier crop transportation network, ADM helps connect the harvest to the home in more than 140 countries. For more information about ADM and its products, visit www.adm.com.

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SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America