Boys and Girls Club running short on cash

For the past 11 years, the Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township has helped keep kids safe and off the streets through dozens of educational and vocational programs offered at its four locations.

Now, the organization that has helped thousands of student members steer clear of trouble faces a financial burden that threatens the future of some programs.

Organizers said they hope the club's 11th annual dinner on Friday night will serve as a celebration of the organization and as a fundraising event.

The club's youth of the year will be honored at the benefit. The event will be held at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee.

Tickets are $150, which includes dinner for two and a raffle ticket for the $5,000 prize. Single raffle tickets are also available for $100.

"It is a celebration of the product that the Boys and Girls Club created," said Boys and Girls Club President Tom Mammoser. "It is an opportunity for the community to see the difference the Boys and Girls Club can have on the lives of members."

Cuts earlier this year to federal grant money reduced the club's budget by almost 70 percent.

Boys and Girls Club Director Mike Berger said the club was expecting to receive about $300,000 in grants to provide recreational activities, tutoring and vocational training to more than 1,200 area students.

However, the club received about $100,000, well short of the $130,000 Berger said it takes to operate one center.

Berger said the club did not receive money from the 21st Century grant, awarded to school districts working alongside community-based organizations, because two schools the club supported were removed from the academic watch-list.

"We did so well in Golfview and Perry while we were in there that we were unable to get funding for those schools," Berger said. "If we don't see some money, we are talking about further reductions in services."

So far, the board has reduced staffing at Perry and Golfview elementary schools due to budget cuts.

The Dundee Township Park District has contributed $75,000 to help with the club's operating costs, while Carpentersville officials are also considering ways to help.

"We definitely want to get them something and we will continue to look for sources," said Carpentersville Trustee Paul Humpfer, also the chairman of the village board's audit and finance commission. "Anything we can do to prevent kids getting involved with gangs we need to look at because when kids are in trouble it costs more to deal with in the future."

For more information on the dinner and raffle, call Berger at (847) 814-7302.