Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County

From Pilot to Pipeline

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County (BGCPBC) has long been a youth development and community leadership pillar. Now, it’s also a pioneer in career readiness. Under the direction of Project Director Abigail Howard, BGCPBC launched a district-wide VR career exploration initiative using Transfr’s immersive platform. Beginning with a pilot of nine licenses and expanding to forty-five in just one year, the program is giving teens hands-on exposure to careers they never imagined.

The impact has been profound: 91 percent of teens discovered new career interests, and 80 percent used VR for the first time to explore future opportunities. By aligning virtual exploration with real-world internships, BGCPBC has created a new blueprint for connecting curiosity to career readiness.

As Regional Impact Director Amy Pages explains, “This program makes careers real for kids who might never see those worlds otherwise. It’s about turning exploration into action.”

Thousands of Teens, No Clear Path Forward

For decades, BGCPBC has helped young people reach their potential through academic support, mentorship, and leadership programs. But as college and career landscapes shifted, leaders saw a growing gap: teens were graduating without a clear sense of career direction or practical experience.

“We serve thousands of teens across 13 sites,” says Amy Pages. “Many don’t yet know what they want to do, or think some careers are out of reach. We needed a way to bring those experiences to them.”

BGCPBC’s CareerBound initiative was already helping teens build college and career skills, but it lacked immersive, hands-on learning to bridge inspiration and action. Traditional career talks and field trips were limited by transportation, time, and resources.

The organization needed an equitable, engaging solution—one that could capture students’ attention in the after-school environment while building real career awareness. When Abigail Howard discovered Transfr VR, she saw an answer: a way to turn curiosity into career clarity. “VR gave us the chance to bring the workplace to the clubs,” she explains. “We could give every teen the same access to experience, no matter where they live or what their background is.”

From Curiosity to Career Clarity

In 2023, BGCPBC launched a pilot with Transfr VR across all teen sites, starting with nine licenses. Abigail Howard coordinated training for staff and site directors, developed a rotation schedule, and supported each location in delivering a consistent experience.

The approach was simple but powerful: each club received VR headsets for a month-long career exploration module. Teens rotated through simulations—performing surgeries, repairing diesel engines, piloting planes, and testing jobs in healthcare and construction.

“We found that our teens already loved the tech,” Pages explains. “So when we introduced VR as a learning tool, they were instantly engaged. They weren’t just imagining—they were doing.”

Abigail’s team used Transfr’s dashboard to track usage, survey students, and evaluate impact. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Eighty percent of participants had never used VR for learning before, and ninety-one percent discovered careers they had never considered.

But the real innovation was how Abigail and BGCPBC connected exploration to action. Partnering with the Corporate Partnerships Director, they aligned career interests sparked in VR with local internships and mentorships. Teens who explored aviation in Transfr were later introduced to a neighboring aviation school; those interested in healthcare shadowed nursing students.

“Virtual reality lets our students see what’s possible,” Howard says. “Our job is to support them in taking the next step toward making it real.”

Outcomes That Opened Doors

The Rising Star Award recognized BGCPBC for both innovation and impact. By the end of the pilot year:
• 91% of teens reported discovering new career interests through VR.
• 80% were first-time VR users, demonstrating expanded digital literacy.
• 50% showed growth in career knowledge, with self-ratings rising from 3.2 to 4.07 after the experience.

One teen summed it up best: “Before, I never thought I could be a pilot. Now I know I can.”

The program’s success wasn’t just quantitative. It transformed the culture within BGCPBC. Teens began mentoring one another on how to use the headsets. Staff reported increased attendance on “VR days.” Parents and community members lined up to try the headsets at club events.

The initiative also advanced equity goals. Spanish-speaking members could explore careers in their native language; students with disabilities found VR’s adaptability empowering.

Perhaps most importantly, the program proved scalable. BGCPBC expanded from 9 to 45 licenses in year two, reaching hundreds more teens and building a pipeline from exploration to employment across Palm Beach County.

“This has opened so many doors,” Pages reflects. “Kids who never saw a path for themselves are now talking about internships and certifications. That’s the power of this tool.”

What Comes Next

BGCPBC plans to continue expanding its Transfr VR program, integrating career exploration with hands-on internships and certification opportunities. Abigail Howard and her team are designing a framework to track career progression—from initial VR interest to real-world achievement.

“Now that every club has its own set of headsets, we’re focusing on quality and connection,” Howard says. “We want students to not only see what’s possible but build the skills and relationships to get there.”

The program has already inspired other Boys & Girls Clubs to consider adopting VR nationwide. With leadership like Abigail’s and a mission grounded in equity and access, BGCPBC is proving that rising stars aren’t just the students—they’re the educators who believe in them.”

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