Boys and Girls Clubs of Dundee Township to launch new donor society

Students check out a fitness room at the Rakow Fitness Center, which is part of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dundee Township Teen Center. With the creation of a new donor society, organization leaders hope to raise enough money to fund operating costs at one of eight sites for an entire year. (John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com)

Lashay Blunt, 10, works in the computer lab at a Boys and Girls Clubs of Dundee Township site. The organization is launching a new donor society, in which leaders are trying to get 100 individuals or businesses to pledge $100 per month, thus funding the operating costs at one site for an entire year. (Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com)

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By Lauren Rohr (lrohr@dailyherald.com)

Boys and Girls Clubs of Dundee Township leaders are launching a new donor society in hopes of expanding the organization’s network of partners.

Individuals and businesses who sign up for Club 100 would pledge $100 per month to the Boys and Girls Club for one year, President Curt McReynolds said.

The goal, he said, is to get 100 participants, thus bringing in an annual $120,000. Those funds would be enough to cover operating costs for one of the organization’s eight sites — each of which serves more than 200 kids and teens — for an entire year.

“I think this falls in line with what we’re trying to do: Be a fully self-sufficient nonprofit standing on our own two feet, and doing it with the support of the community,” McReynolds said.

The nonprofit periodically receives large donations from major businesses and sponsors, he said, pointing to recent contributions of $25,000 and $50,000.

“But not everyone can write such a large check,” McReynolds said. “(Club 100) allows us to capture more of those smaller businesses and independent business owners. It opens us up to a larger net of donors.”

Boys and Girls Club also holds fundraisers throughout the year, McReynolds said, but part of the money raised during a dinner or golf event goes toward the costs associated with those outings.

“(Club 100) is really just focusing on being donor-centric and making sure 100 percent of the proceeds go back into the Boys and Girls Club,” he said.

A Club 100 launch party and reception will be 6 to 8 p.m. July 28 at the Anvil Club, 309 Meier St., East Dundee.

There is no cost to attend, McReynolds said, but it’s “strongly suggested” attendees actively participate as Club 100 members.

Those who sign up would be asked to sign one of the 100 squares on a large corkboard on display at the event, McReynolds said. The goal is to fill the board by the end of the night.

“We have to prove what the impact of their gift would be,” he said. “It’s a neat challenge for us as an organization.”

Interested parties are asked to contact McReynolds at (847) 551-4309 or curt.mcreynolds@gmail.com by Thursday to RSVP.