Boys and Girls Club 1
Fundraising Event Plan
Dameon Robinson
Liberty University
COMS 640: Event Planning & Donor Relations
Dr. Jason Leverett
April 14, 2024
Boys and Girls Club
The Boys and Girls Club is a large, nationwide, non-profit organization created to inspire
and empower the youth of America (Boys & Girls Club, n,d.) As a former participant in the club
at its Allentown, PA branch, I will be acting partially as a SME for the BGCA (DBA for Boys &
Girls Club of America). At its core, BGCA is an organization that provides creative and
expressive outlets to inspire the youth in their future endeavors. The Boys and Girls Club has
been a staple in youth activities and development since 1860 (Boys and Girl Club of America,
n,d.). The organization has been dedicated to showcasing their tremendous efforts in keeping the
positivity and inclusivity with local youth. With hundreds of branches and thousands of
volunteers, BGCA has been a major contributor in uplifting the children of society.
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Background
Since the BGCA has been around since the nineteenth century, it has not always been the
same inclusive organization that has become a household name today. At a time when the United
States was dealing with massive growth and change after the civil war, the Boys Club was
created to aid young boys who were growing up in unfortunate circumstances. Judging by the
time the club was created, there is no surprise that it was a club strictly for boys and not girls.
This was a time when women were not seen as equal to men by the masses. Ironically, the
organization was founded by women, Elizabeth Harmesly as well as Mary and Alice Goodwin,
two sisters. Their first club was known as the Dashaway Club (Nixon, 2020) and since it was a
club designed to prove that troubled youth can be civilized and function properly in society, the
first club was a huge stepping stone into what BGCA is today.
Over time, the Boys Club became increasingly more popular. In 1906, it became a
nationally recognized organization after a large merger with over fifty boys club organizations.
By the Great Depression, The Boys Club officially became The Boys Club of America.
Throughout the 1900s, the Boys Club continued to expand in size and members, even receiving a
United States congressional charter in the 1950s (Nixon, 2020). The Boys club officially became
The Boys and Girls Club of America in 1990, ending over a reign of over 100 years and
becoming inclusive to girls as well. This marked an important event not just for these
organizations but all organizations like it. After it became BGCA, the organization now truly
represented inclusivity by ushering in a new era that included gender equality.
Mission
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For over 100 years, BGCA has been tasked with the responsibility of empowering the
youth. The mission is “To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach
their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. (Boys and Girl Club of America,
n,d.),” BGCA continues to abide by this rich tradition of youth involvement and activities by
expanding and evolving as time persists. This organization and its commitment to inclusivity has
played a key role in youth development for many years. Today, BGCA continuously strives to
keep their mission intact by providing opportunities that more families should take advantage of
today.
The soul of BGCA is enabling young people to reach their full potential. BGCA
encourages young people and attempts to shape those who join into model, hard working citizens
in society. In an age where grade school literacy has been at its most disappointing in a long time
as far as reading and math skills (Warre, 2020), having organizations that encourage learning in
classrooms is a major boost. What makes organizations like BGCA successful is the approach of
wanting kids to succeed in different types of activities they may have not had an interest in. All
the branches of BGCA work tirelessly to ensure the safest and healthiest environment possible
for the children. BGCA branches offer a bevy of activities and programs that keep kids engaged
and focused on a path to success (Boys and Girls Club of America, n,d.).
Contrary to its inception, BGCA does not only focus on troubled youth, but youth in
general. While it is beneficial to have the club be open to all kids with different backgrounds, the
troubled youth are who benefits the most. Kids that are taken off a poor path can be shown a
positive, nurturing environment at BGCA. BGCA branches offer a bevy of activities and
programs that keep kids engaged and focused on a path to success (Boys and Girls Club of
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America, n,d.). As a whole, BGCA aims to employ the best mentors possible as they are
responsible for the after-school activities and fun every day. The dedicated staff at BGCA and
other organizations similar are doing the Lord’s work, many without even knowing it. The Lord
reminds his people in Luke 6:30 - “ Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what
belongs to you, do not demand it back (English Standard Bible, 2016).”
Conclusion
In conclusion, it would be foolish to understate the relevance of organizations like
BGCA. Through strategic planning, time commitments, and longtime success, the higher ups at
BGCA continue to find new ways to be inclusive and give back to the youth. BGCA continues to
do its best to shape the lives of young people in a positive manner. If BGCA continues doing the
Lord’s work, hopefully the future is bright for the next wave generation of youth in this country.
Event Proposal: First Annual ‘Find Your Niche’ Fundraising Event
Introduction
Welcome to the first annual "Find Your Niche," event, which is a new, all-inclusive fundraising
event with the mission of aiding local youth in finding a new passion. Whether it be sports, arts,
or education related, ‘Find Your Niche’ is an event that aims to empower young individuals and
help locate expressionism within themselves. The Boys and Girls Club of America (BGCA) is
ecstatic to announce that this event will be coming to Allentown, Pennsylvania on July 27, 2024,
from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The purpose of this event is to bring in youth who feel that they have
no interest or knowledge on various activities and ca]]potential career paths. Studies indicate the
Boys and Girls Club 5
importance of youth being involved (University of San Diego, 2023) and expressing themselves
whether it be through performance and arts or athletics. Join BGCA for the dynamic and vibrant
fundraising event dedicated to supporting the mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America
(BGCA). This innovative event is designed to engage and inspire young people while raising
vital funds to empower them to reach their full potential. Join us for the inaugural event that
hopes to inspire, educate, and guide the youth toward success.
●Who: BGCA invites all youth from ages six-eighteen to attend the event. All youth must
be in grade school to attend.
●What: The "Find Your Niche” event" will be an energetic event with high interaction and
engagement. There will be dozens of workshops ranging from basketball and theater to
gaming and content creation. The event will be a lively and interactive event, featuring
workshops that give insight on the activity, food, and games.
●When: Saturday, July 27th, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
●Where: The event will take place at Executive Academy Charter School. It is located at
555 Union Blvd, Allentown, PA 18109
●Why: Find your Niche was formulated in order to help young people find either their first
creative outlet, or add new ones to what they have.
●How: BGCA and its sponsors have invited talented coaches, teachers, athletes, role
models, and more to showcase what they are representing. The hope is for kids to find an
interest in at least one new activity and leave with information on how to participate in
these activities locally
Event Details
●Workshops: BGCA has invited notable art and theater teachers and some of their
students to educate interested youth. In the gymnasium will be indoor sport workshops
with basketball, volleyball, and other indoor sport coaches. Outside sport workshops and
stands will be outdoors as well as the food trucks.
●Live Performances: There will be an outside stage performance for local dance teams.
Featuring different types of dances, the live performance portion of the event is intended
to guide youth into finding a love for performing arts.
●Gaming and Social Media: Located in the schools’ computer labs, these informative
workshops are geared towards those with an interest in gaming and content creation.
Local streamers and content will speak on the evolution of online gaming and using
social media and the internet to generate content. .
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Budget:
●Venue: $500 to rent out the school for five hours.
●Food: Food presentations, small business samples, and refreshments for 250 youth and
parents - $2000
●Entertainment: Sound equipment, performances from dance and theater clubs- $2,000
●Decor: BGCA themed decorations (workshops are responsible for providing own stands)-
$3,000
●Marketing: Flyers, brochures, posters, social media marketing- $2,000
●Staffing: Event staff, volunteers, security - $5000
●Miscellaneous: Insurance - $5000
Total Estimated Budget: $19,500
Ticket Pricing: $10 per youth, which will be donated to BGCA.
In addition to the ticket funds going directly to BGCA, Find your Niche will also be sponsored
by a variety of businesses in the Lehigh valley area. Some of these sponsors include Lehigh
Valley Health Network, Wall 2 Wall Pest Control Services, and more! There will also be various
raffles for exciting prizes such as a Playstation 5, Signed professional artwork, and even an 80
inch television! We plan to raise $20,000 with the hopes of bringing bigger, better events to the
Lehigh Valley area to help our youth find their niche!
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References
Administrator. (2023, December 14). The benefits of Youth Sports in child development.
University of San Diego - Professional & Continuing Education. https://pce.sandiego.edu/child-
development-through-sports/
Anderson-Butcher, D., & Cash, S. (2011, January 11). Participation in Boys and Girls Clubs
vulnerability, and problem behaviors.
https://www.cayci.osu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Participation-in-Boys-Girls-Clubs-
vulnerability-and-problem-behaviors.pdf
Boys & Girls Club. Boys & Girls Clubs of America. (n,d.). https://www.bgca.org/?
gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwz42xBhB9EiwA48pT77thJMYkbGsGbe8vRCKmVHnLukm_
05J_kWsg-5gFxzx_a0evEqko3RoC7kkQAvD_BwE
English Standard Version Bible. (2016). English Standard Version Bible Online.
https://www.esv.org/
Nixon , A. (2020, June 10). Boys & girls clubs. Social Welfare History Project.
https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/youth/boys-girls-clubs/
Warren, F. (2024, April 3). The headlines about student reading levels are sobering, but there’s
hope if we change the conditions. The Educators Room. https://theeducatorsroom.com/the-
headlines-about-student-reading-levels-are-sobering-but-theres-hope-if-we-change-the-
conditions/#:~:text=Some%2034%25%20of%20students%20are,basic%20reading%20level%2C
%20per%20NCES.
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