Club for youths gets $100,000 from Carpentersville, donor
It's the season of giving, and the seven members of the Carpentersville audit and finance commission -- as well as one benevolent donor -- were in a charitable mood Thursday.
The finance panel unanimously recommended the village board donate $50,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township.
If approved by trustees, that donation will double after an anonymous donor pledged to match the village's gift.
Village President Bill Sarto said he expects the village board's approval since he and three trustees -- commission chairman Paul Humpfer, Keith Hinz and Ed Ritter -- serve as audit and finance members.
"The commission recognizes the fact that the program is a benefit to the community by getting youngsters off the streets after school," Sarto said. "But it is not just babysitting. The club provides beneficial programs that teach important life skills, like how to fill out resumes and job applications."
Money was made available after the village renegotiated a contract with its lobbyist, Russ Reid Co.
The village had budgeted $130,000 for the lobbyist's services. But since the firm had not secured federal funding for the village after two years, Russ Reid offered the village a year of free services. The village is now responsible for paying the firm's expenses only, freeing up about $60,000 in lobbying fees.
The donation could not have come at a better time for the club that provides recreational activities, tutoring and vocational training to more that 1,200 area students.
Cuts earlier this year to federal grant money reduced the club's budget by almost 70 percent.
The club did not receive funding from the 21st Century grant -- awarded to school districts working alongside community-based organizations -- leaving the club well short of the $300,000 it had anticipated.
In January, the club requested a $75,000 donation from Carpentersville, but funds were not available at the time. Club executives later approached East and West Dundee but have not negotiated a contribution.
Though the club did receive about $100,000 in grants, club director Michael Berger estimated it costs almost $130,000 per year to run one site.
The club operates four locations in Carpentersville.
"This will enable our staff to reach out to kids without decreasing services," Berger said. "We appreciate that the village recognizes this as a valuable partnership in the community and I expect a full return on investment."
Boys and Girls Club President Tom Mammoser called the commission's actions "encouraging."
"It is a source of encouragement to one, have the village recognize the club's value in the community, and two, have them step up and support it," Mammoser said. "This gives us some stability as we move into the 2008 budget."