SEQUIM — Although she has worked as a fundraiser and supporter behind the scenes since 2007 at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, former Port Angeles Mayor Karen Rogers is heading up the club’s Campaign for Kids for the first time.
She aims to raise at least $80,000 goal for the Port Angeles and Sequim units this year.
“I felt that now is the time I can help in a more public way,” said Rogers, now a Port Angeles business consultant.
“I look at the Boys & Girls Club as the heart of a place for children, a safe place, a nurturing place,” she added.
Besides sustaining the existing programs at Sequim’s Carroll C. Kendall Unit, 400 W. Fir St., Rogers has high hopes for the smaller Port Angeles clubhouse at 2620 S. Francis St.
Rogers said she would be happy to raise more than the annual goal, which the club met in 2011.
An Aug. 25 “It Just Takes One” fundraising phone-a-thon is scheduled.
The clubs will be open to the public to show potential donors around and give them a chance to donate what they can, said Rogers and Mary Budke, the clubs’ executive director.
Rogers, Budke and many other club supporters will be on the phones to reel in donations.
Also scheduled are talks on the usual speakers’ circuit, which will include pitches at clubs, chambers of commerce and other organizations.
Tuesday presentation
Budke will address the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce noon luncheon Tuesday at the SunLand Golf & Country Club conference center, 109 Hilltop Drive, SunLand.
Rogers explained that the club is firm about keeping the annual membership fee at $30 but said it takes a great deal of fundraising to sustain that affordable fee when the actual cost per member is about $750 a year.
“Part of this campaign is to bridge the gap,” Rogers said.
Individuals can adopt a child for $30, giving a young one in need a chance to have a safe place to go after school to study, use computers or play games and simply have fun as a kid.
Rogers acknowledges that economic times are tough.
“This challenge with people is everywhere,” she said, but “every dollar is a direct way of having our children succeed.”
Rogers said she would like to see the club’s children celebrated with healthy donations on the Fourth of July as well as the United States’ Independence Day.
Besides the Sequim club, Rogers said the Port Angeles club’s future must be considered.
“There are future plans of expanding the Port Angeles presence because the need is there, too,” she said.
The clubs have 1,440 members between them, with 183 club volunteers and 21 professional youth development staffers.
Club information said a $5,000 gift could provide healthy meals and snacks for one month.
A $2,500 gift could help purchase athletic equipment for the club’s sports, fitness and recreation programs.
What gifts can buy
A $750 gift could pay for one child to attend the club for a year, and a $300 gift could upgrade the technology in the club’s computer lab.
A $50 gift will provide milk for a month, and a $30 gift represents one child’s membership for a year.
“Children just want to succeed,” Rogers said.
“It’s in their DNA. It’s in their drive.
“So let’s keep that drive going.”
The Boys & Girls Clubs also has a new website at www.bgc-op.org and recently added a mobile application that allows donors to seamlessly contribute.
Potential donors also can phone Rogers at 360-417-1143.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2390 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
