Fundraiser Shows Club's Commitment to NEK

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Created on Monday, 24 March 2014 15:27

Written by Tyler Dumont

LYNDONVILLE - The Boys & Girls Club of America will soon have a home in the Northeast Kingdom.  Over the weekend, the club held a Casino Night event at Lyndon State College's ASAC 100 conference hall.

"The Casino Night is all about raising money for the Boys and Girls Club," said Mike Ferrant, a Board Member for the North Country division of the organization. "Every penny goes to the Boys and Girls Club from tonight. It's also just a chance for people to get out on a cold Saturday night in March and have some fun in the Northeast Kingdom."

The national organization, which dates back to 1860 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA, is set to open a division in the NEK this fall. It will be based out of the Lyndon Outing Club's facilities and will be open Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. starting in September.

During school vacations, Ferrant says the club will be open for extended hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The organization will also be bringing new jobs to the Kingdom - as they look to hire a full time director and part time staff. Part of their workload will be planning alternative, exclusive programming just for kids.

"It will be stuff that those kids want to do. Our membership will own the club," said Ferrant. "They will dictate what activities we run and then we'll just raise the money and provide the means to run those programs."

Ferrant said there will be a $75 yearly membership fee to have access to the club's events and activities. 

Plans for a Facebook and Twitter page are also in development, with an expected launch this week. Leaders say the Twitter handle will be @BGCNEK. 

"The Northeast Kingdom is the only part of Vermont that does not have a Boys and Girls Club right now," Ferrant said. "It's about time [they] got one, and that will round out almost all of New England." 

Follow Tyler Dumont on Twitter @VCCJ_Tyler