Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia Launches Be Great, Philadelphia! Campaign

PHILADELPHIA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia (BGCP), which serves more than 13,000 youth annually, announces the launch of Be Great, Philadelphia!, a comprehensive fundraising campaign focused on enhancing programs and facilities at the twelve BGCP Clubs across the city and sustaining the future of the organization. With an initial fundraising goal of $6 million, the campaign will allow BGCP to improve and implement new programs to address systemic and chronic problems facing the youth of Philadelphia, particularly high dropout rates and violence.

The initial phase of the Be Great, Philadelphia! campaign will allow BGCP to focus on the following and immediate organizational needs:

•Enhancement of teen programs to attract and retain teen members

•Infrastructure improvements at the most needy clubs in the city, such as the remodeling of the 100+ year-old Nicetown Club

•Creating an endowment that will provide financial support in perpetuity

The Be Great, Philadelphia! campaign is the result of the single largest charitable donation in the 123-year history of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia, a $3 million pledge from John C. Haas. Mr. Haas, a former BGCP Board Chair, has been integral in the growth of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia for more than 50 years, and with his latest pledge, his impact will be felt for generations to come.

«Mr. Haas’ commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia has provided thousands of Philadelphia youth the opportunity to follow their dreams. This unprecedented financial donation by Mr. Haas ensures that Boys & Girls Clubs can continue providing future Club members the same opportunities as their parents and grandparents had before them,» said Richard Wegryn, Jr., Board Chairman of Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia.

"I have actively supported the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia for over 50 years. This most recent financial commitment reflects the importance of their work in our community. I urge others to join me in supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia's Be Great, Philadelphia! campaign," stated John C. Haas.

In addition to Mr. Haas’ pledge, the Be Great, Philadelphia campaign has received support from:

•The Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia Board of Directors, who have achieved 100% participation rate in personal giving to the campaign and have exceeded the projected income goal as a constituency

•Over 90% of Boys and Girls Clubs employees who have pledged approximately $18,000 of their own money to the campaign

•The Shane Victorino Foundation, which has pledged $900,000 to the campaign that will be utilized to remodel our Nicetown Club, renaming it the Shane Victorino Nicetown Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia.

«On behalf of the volunteers, staff and, most importantly, the 13,000 children we serve each year, I want to thank the Haas and Victorino families for their generous gifts that will certainly go a long way to meeting our campaign goals,» added Jeffrey Waldron, President and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia.

«To continue to have a profound impact on the youth of Philadelphia, BGCP is also calling on the region’s leading corporations, foundations and caring individuals to help us in our effort to inspire hope and dreams in this city’s youth.»

To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia and the Be Great, Philadelphia! campaign, please visit http://www.bgcphila.org.

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