Jessica Luton
The Boys & Girls Club is gearing up for a fundraiser dinner and silent auction that will take place at the Milledgeville Country Club, located at 3700 Sinclair Dam Road NE, on Friday, Sept. 18.
The fundraiser, titled, “Having a Swinging Time 2009,” will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar along with music from jazz band Hat Tricks and swing dance instructions from the Georgia College & State University Swing Association.
In addition, there will be a tea room modeling of clothing donated by Maurice’s, as well as a silent auction for some exquisite prizes.
“We have over $4,000 worth of items to bid on,” said Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Paul Bernard.
The two big items include a seven-day rental at a plush Myrtle Beach condominium and another seven-day rental in the Colorado Mountains near Brekenridge, said Bernard.
The minimum bid on each rental is $1,500, but Bernard said several other items will be auctioned off at the event as well.
“We have all kinds of other little items for auction,” he said. “It’s a win-win situation for everybody. They get it for a real economical price and the Boys and Girls Club gets a donation.”
Tickets for the event, which will run from 7 to 9 p.m., are $40 per person, $35 per person for couples and $30 per person for groups of five or more.
Tickets can be purchased from the Boys & Girls Club by calling Bernard at (478) 452-2315 or Dr. Doreen Sams at (478) 445-0966.
In conjunction with the event, the Milledgeville Country Club’s Pro Shop is offering discounted tee times, $30 for a round of golf, on the day of the fundraiser for those people that have purchased tickets to the event.
To set up a tee time, those that have purchased tickets for the fundraiser can simply contact the Milledgeville Country Club’s Pro Shop at (478) 452-3220 and reserve a tee time.
In addition, when paying for a discounted round of golf, patrons must show their ticket to the fundraising event.
The Boys & Girls Club is also diligently working away at trying to solicit donations and sponsors for youth in the Baldwin County area, said Bernard.
“I made a donation of $3,000 to sponsor youth and I hope other individuals at least sponsor one youth,” he said. “You don’t have to make the payment all at once. We can work out a payment plan.”
In addition, Bernard encouraged businesses to come forward and sponsor Baldwin County youth, just like he and other businesses in the area have done.
Bernard said he accepted a $2,000 donation from Washington EMC Tuesday.
Wendy Sellers, Washington County EMC vice president for finance and administration, said Tuesday that the donation was made possible due to the business’s foundation.
“We’re making a donation today to sponsor youth from Baldwin County,” she said. “We’re donating $2,000. That comes from our foundation. It’s money that’s provided from the Washington Electric Foundation, and it goes to charitable organizations like the Boys and Girls Club. That’s just one of the charities that we’re assisting this quarter.”
Bernard said donations to sponsor area youth are important because the Boys & Girls Club provides a home away from home for many youth in the area.
“It helps keep the Boys and Girls Club open. We provide a home away from home. We make them do their homework and we try to make an impression on youth that school is important. Physical activity is also important, and we also do fun things such as games and arts and crafts.”
Anyone interested in making a donation, sponsoring youth from the Baldwin County area or buying a ticket to the fundraiser, call Bernard at (478) 452-2315 or Dr. Dorren Sams at (478) 445-0966.
