We arrived at the Ballard Boys & Girls Club one afternoon as students were showing up after school. Each weekday about 150 kids rely on the club for their after school program, although more would like to come. “We’ve had families on our wait list trying to get into our childcare program for four years.,” said Mark Hendricks the executive director of the club. To accommodate the demand, they’ve got their sights set on a major remodel.
The club currently has split classrooms. Kindergarten and 1st graders in one room, 2nd and 3rd graders in another room, etc. The proposed remodel will add 5,000 to 6,000 more square feet, doubling their current size and allowing them to put each grade in its own room. The plan is to build out where the parking lot is and reconfigure the parking situation to add more spaces.
“Exciting times for the Ballard club,” Hendricks exclaimed. They hope to break ground late next summer with construction taking five to six months. The club will stay open during construction.
The 5th Annual Ballard Boys & Girls Club BBQ and Auction is this coming Saturday, October 17th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Last year they raised $80,000, “I’d like to raise $100,000 off this barbecue/auction if we can,” Hendricks said, adding that they need to raise two-million dollars total. It’s a catered event for adults with beer and wine and 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly to the building fund. You can get more information on the auction including how to get tickets here.
The Club is a GREAT place for our neighborhood's children and truly earns it's “positive place for kids” slogan. Although my family can afford to pay the full tuition, there are scholarships for families who need them so that those kids also have a fun and safe place to go while their parents are at work.
please have a reminder before the weekend for this- to bubble the post up!