https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbm5PRPu7zM&feature=youtu.be
The Brigade Boys and Girls Club and Live Oak Bank have partnered to raise money to help provide more local children with after-school programming.
From now until Dec. 31, any donation made to Brigade–up to $25,000–will be matched by a donation from Live Oak Bank.
“This is a great opportunity [for] our club to serve additional children that may receive little to no after-school programming,” Brigade Boys and Girls Club Chief Professional Officer Jeff Green said.
“We actually have a waiting list for people wanting to come in,” Green said. “The goal of this money and the matching funds is to hire additional staff and [get the] supplies and stuff we need to serve more kids.”
The funds raised will allow Brigade to hire five additional part-time staff members to offset the cost of providing services to 50 extra children free of charge. Brigade also provides educational tools, meals and transportation to the club’s main building at 2759 Vance St. in Wilmington.
The Brigade Boys and Girls Club averages about 195 kids in the New Hanover County unit, Green said. The building can serve up to 240 children.
“We’re able to serve more kids, which is ultimately our goal,” Green said. “We want to see our building completely full every day with the youth that are receiving services. And this [grant] would allow us to maximize our capacity.”
Angie Hill, development director for the Brigade Boys and Girls Club, said only a small percentage of the children who go to the center pay full price, which is $50 a week for after-school programming and transportation. About 70 percent of those children who currently attend the program receive scholarships or waived fees.
In response to the partnership with Live Oak Bank, Hill said: “Their interest and our mission matched.”
“[Live Oak Bank] Vice Chairman Lee Williams is one of the founders of the bank and heavily involved in the community,” Laura Petty, Live Oak Bank marketing programs manager, said. “We’re trying to help the Brigade raise $50,000. That’s…the goal. Anything beyond that would be icing on the cake.”
Petty said the funding would help Brigade with their fundraising efforts for the next year.
“It takes a lot of funding for the after-school programming, including transportation costs, to take care of the kids while they are there for a full year,” Petty said.
Live Oak Bank would like to help the Brigade “be able to take care of as many kids as possible,” she added.
“Investing in our community’s youth has always been a top priority for the bank,” Williams said. “We hope that both individuals and local companies in the area will open their hearts and wallets in a joint effort to provide safe, educational after-school environment for these children.”
For more information about the Brigade Boys and Girls Club or to donate to the matching grant click here. For more information about Live Oak Bank visit their website or Facebook page.
Video courtesy Live Oak Bank.
Christina Haley is a news reporter at Port City Daily. Reach her at (910) 772-6337 or [email protected].
