Ball Foundation’s Global Impact and the $2M Boys & Girls Club Partnership  

Alex Fordham interviews Jessica Leary, Executive Director of the Ball Foundation –  Ball Corporation’s philanthropic arm ­– about its mission and recent work.  

Leary, a 15-year Ball veteran who moved from environmental health and safety into social impact, says the foundation focuses on recycling, manufacturing education, and disaster response, supporting more than 15 partners globally and responding to disasters within 50 miles of Ball facilities (including U.S. hurricanes and South American mudslides).  

She highlights nearly $2 million invested over five years in Boys & Girls Clubs of America, including the Ultimate Journeys program, to spark hands-on STEM and skilled-trades interest—ideally by middle school (around age 13)—through employee engagement and facility exposure.  

She notes partners still want both manufacturing and recycling education when infrastructure exists, and the foundation is planning strategy through 2030, while expanding collaborative partnerships to address workforce gaps as industry evolves.

Timestamps 
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
00:21 Meet Jessica Leary
00:28 Ball Foundation Mission
00:58 Jessica Career Journey
01:29 Recent Projects Overview
02:36 Boys and Girls Club Partnership
03:13 Building the STEM Pipeline
04:30 Reaching Kids Early
06:32 Future of the Partnership
08:38 Disaster Relief and Recycling Work
10:51 Impact Stories and Motivation
11:46 Strategy to 2030
13:03 How Anyone Can Help
14:49 Power of Collaboration
15:32 Sustainability Education for Youth
17:39 Closing Thoughts on Workforce Needs
19:15 Final Thanks and Wrap Up