The William G. and Maria Selby Foundation awarded Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County a $250,000 grant for Invest In Kids, the capital campaign to build a new DeSoto Boys & Girls Club. The gift not only helped push the amount raised to date to over $5 million (total campaign goal is $7.5 million), but it will also allow construction to begin in the spring of 2018.
“We’re excited to be contributing to such a vital project for the children and families in the community,” said Carol Butera, Executive Director of the William G. and Maria Selby Foundation. “With this gift, the Foundation will be able to help Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County serve almost triple the number of youth at this location.”
“We admire the Selby Foundation’s longstanding commitment to helping young people,” said Caleb Grimes, Chairman of the Invest In Kids campaign. “Their commitment parallels the Boys & Girls Clubs’ mission to enable all young people to reach their full potential. It’s very symbolic that their generous contribution enables us to begin building the new Club, which will provide hope and opportunity for our youth for generations.”
The Foundation’s investment includes the naming rights to the Multipurpose/Public Reception Room, which will be available for public use when the Club is not in session. The state-of-the-art Club will replace the existing DeSoto Club, located at 5231 34th Street West in Bradenton. The current Club, which has served the community for five decades, will continue to operate while the new Club is being built on the east end of the property, located at the intersection of 53rd Avenue West and 30th Street West.
“We are so pleased with this gift from the Selby Foundation and the timing couldn’t be any better,” said Dawn Stanhope, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. “With end of the year giving at its peak now, we are hoping to inspire more donors. Given the current uncertainty regarding new tax legislation, there isn’t a better time to give appreciated stock or funds from an IRA rollover.”
More information about the campaign and ways to give, contact Francine Diemer, Chief Development Officer for Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County at 941-761-2582 or via email to francine.diemer@bgcmanatee.org.