SEQUIM — Some 50 volunteers scurried around the Sequim Boys & Girls Club on Thursday, putting on final touches for Saturday’s colorful Rumble in the Jungle fundraiser for the organization dedicated to children.
While there might be some fun monkey business when the 22nd annual Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula auction and dinner kicks off at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Sequim Carroll C. Kendall club, 400 W. Fir St., it’s all in the spirit of raising money for both the Sequim facility and the Port Angeles club at 2620 S. Francis St.
The organization seeks to raise $170,000 to fund programs at the clubs.
Tickets were still available Thursday at $100 a person, said Stephen Rosales, special events coordinator.
“We’re almost sold out, and that’s never happened before,” said Rosales, a club volunteer for five years.
“This is a very positive thing for the kids.”
Dinner will begin at 7 p.m. The auction will start at 8 p.m.
Table settings for 340 were staged in the club’s gym.
Club volunteers have dressed up the gym and adjoining rooms with jungle papier mache creatures of all kinds, colorful lighting, even jungle vines for the festivities.
Port Townsend magician-comedian Joey Pipia is billed as the event’s master of ceremonies, and Jake Sanford is the auctioneer.
200 auction items
Rosales said among the 200 auction items for bid are Lasik eye surgery, a year’s supply of Jose’s Salsa, trips to Hawaii, even a time-share trip to Bandera, Texas.
Several silent auctions will take place before the 8 p.m. live auction.
The dinner and live auction are part of the biggest fundraiser of the year for the agency.
The organization raised nearly $87,000 after the Campaign For Kids fundraiser, which ran from April 1 through Aug. 31, blew past its $70,000 goal this year.
The Saturday fundraiser comes just days after the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula board announced the hire of Mary Budke as executive director over 45 applicants.
Budke, who most recently acted as the clubs’ director, has been a clubs leader for more than six years and comes from a banking industry background. She has a master’s degree in education.
Youths’ potential
In her program remarks, Budke said, “Our mission is one we take very personally: to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.”
The total expense budget for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula for 2010 is $963,480, Stacy Ceder, resource development director, has said.
During the school year, the Sequim Boys & Girls Club serves each day more than 300 children from the ages of 5 to 18.
About 75 are served at the Mount Angeles Unit at 2620 S. Francis St., Port Angeles.
The Sequim unit at 400 W. Fir St. has about 30,000 square feet.
It is equipped with a games room, art room, computer lab, library, gym, teen center, KinderKids classroom and cafeteria.
The Mount Angeles Unit is equipped with a games room, art room, education and technology center and an outside play area.
For more information about Rumble in the Jungle or to RSVP, phone 360-683-8095.
For more information about the clubs, visit www.positiveplaceforkids.net.
To contact the Sequim club, phone 360-683-8095.
To contact the Port Angeles club, phone 360-417-2831.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
