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Photo by Travis Pratt
Boys and Girls Club volunteer Cierra Gibson reacts after Ramone
Citron-Vega accidentally places a dab of paint on Gibson’s hand. The Boys and Girls Club of Frederick County, a nonprofit dedicated to
helping the county’s youth, will be receiving its national charter
May 20. |
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A Frederick nonprofit dedicated to helping the county's youth will soon benefit from being part of an influential national organization.The Boys and Girls Club of Frederick County will receive its national charter at a breakfast to be held May 20 at Isabella's restaurant in Frederick. Founded in 2002 as an offshoot of the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County, the Boys and Girls Club of Frederick County serves about 300 area youths, operating programs including job training and career development, educational support, sports and fitness and leadership development. "It's a life-enhancing program," said Patrick Gunnin, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Frederick County. "We help kids build the skills to become responsible, productive, caring citizens." As a member of the national organization, the Frederick Chapter will be eligible for federal grant money as well as funds from corporate foundations. Last year, Congress allocated $40 million to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. "To now become part of 4,500 Boys and Girls Clubs across the country is really special," he said. Gunnin, who has been involved in the Boys and Girls Club for 35 years, said the process of obtaining a charter is a long one, which includes verification of sustainability by the national council, application for nonprofit status -- and the legal issues surrounding it -- and incorporation. The national organization also requires an executive director, which the Frederick club did not have for a short time until Gunnin took the job two months ago, further extending the process. "We were kind of caught in limbo," he said. The charter also ensures the Boys and Girls Club of Frederick County will have a voice on the national council through smaller regional councils. "Frederick is too important to Boys and Girls Club not to have a strong program," Gunnin said. "I think there is a lot of recognition based on the quality of service related to the national Boys and Girls Club name that is really going to help."
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