SAS interns use data for good to support local students and help strengthen community programs

This summer, interns at global data and AI leader SAS had the chance to help the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wake and Johnston Counties through a Data for Good project demonstrating how data, technology and community service can come together to create a difference.

Working alongside Boys & Girls Clubs leaders, interns applied their skills across multiple teams to support the organization's Back-to-School Community Day initiative. Their efforts included designing and analyzing community surveys, conducting demographic and food-access research, tracking school supply donations, and building dashboards to help guide future decision-making.

Interns were divided into seven different teams and played a unique role in the project from beginning to end. From gathering background information on Boys & Girls Clubs' needs and local demographics, to marketing the donation drive, to analyzing the final numbers once it concluded, each team was vital to the success of the project.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Wake and Johnston Counties focus on providing a safe, supportive environment, helping children across both counties thrive and shaping their future. The Clubs' Back to School Community Day focuses on supplying local families with everything students need when they return to school in August.

Using SAS Visual Analytics on SAS® Viya®, teams tracked valuable demographic data from towns in the two counties, identifying areas of need and providing Boys & Girls Clubs with recommendations for where to expand and focus efforts. SAS was also used to analyze the donations received and collection insights while giving the Boys & Girls Clubs a clear picture of the resources SAS gathered.

After a successful two-week donation drive across the SAS campus, interns collected over 16,000 items, totaling nearly $3,000 in value. Items such as lined paper, pencils, folders and more will go to students across Wake and Johnston counties to prepare them for success in the upcoming school year.

"The impact of this project extends far beyond the work completed this summer," said DJ Jones, Chief Operating Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Wake & Johnston Counties. "The insights generated will help us better serve students, while giving interns firsthand experience using data to create meaningful change in their communities."

The project is part of SAS' broader Data for Good initiative, which brings together employee volunteers, advanced analytics and nonprofit organizations to address societal challenges across industries.

Learn more about how SAS helped the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wake and Johnston Counties.