Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana hosted its annual golf outing at White Hawk Country Club on Thursday. With about 212 golfers attending the fundraiser, the Club provided its donors with a buffet lunch just before the outing in an effort to show its appreciation.
The lively public event was filled with various organizers and attendees, all of whom have put in their energy to further the ultimate goal of Boys & Girls Clubs – to enrich and nurture the youth of Northwest Indiana. CEO and President Ryan Smiley was enthralled to hold another sold-out outing.
“Thanks to so many generous supporters, we are able to hold a great outing. Staff and volunteers do a really good job and really make it a great experience. It is also one of our largest fundraisers. We rely heavily on contributions to support the operations of our Clubs in order to keep our membership fees low. So, this is a very important fundraiser for us – a great experience and a great day,” Smiley said.
Smiley also discussed the significance and influence of an organization like Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana. Every dollar received through donations and contributions goes to the children of our communities, from assistance to scholarships and everything in between.
“The funds from this help support our general operations, therefore keeping our membership fees at only $40 a year. These fundraisers go to offset those fees that we reduce for those families that otherwise wouldn't be able to afford it,” Smiley said.
Chip Mang, principal in CAPTRUST, is one of the leading sponsors for the event and thinks that having an event like this emphasizes the importance of supporting the community, and its youth. With CAPTRUST being a sponsor and his wife being an organizer of the event, Mang is deeply involved with what this organization stands for.
“My wife works for Boys & Girls Clubs and has for some time now. Through the years, we’ve realized how important it is to give back to the kids in Northwest Indiana. This is a great way to raise money for the entire organization and help them promote what they do best, such as giving the children an opportunity to strive and excel outside of the house,” Mang said.
Angie Barber, Director of Education, assisted with a raffle during the lunch buffet. Attendees purchased tickets for the raffle in hopes of winning prizes provided by AJs Pizza, Burgerhaus, El Taco Real, and more.
“Many sponsors throughout our community within Northwest Indiana have given to help support Boys & Girls Clubs. All of these proceeds are going to be going back to our organization to help fund our members and their memberships,” Barber said.
From large monetary donations to the purchasing of raffle tickets, many people came together to support the Clubs for a cause – enabling the youth of the Northwest Indiana community. Smiley emphasizes that supporting and investing in the efforts of the Clubs also means investing in future generations.
“I think it's more important now than ever, just considering our society coming out of COVID and what our children have experienced, to be able to impact them socially, emotionally, and physically in a positive environment – to provide hope and opportunity for them to dream big and be all that they can be,” Smiley said.
To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana, please visit https://www.bgcgreaternwi.org/.
