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12 A TIME FOR GIVING
Since its opening in 2000,
the Nampa Boys & Girls know we have that income come businesses can be Champions
every month.”
as well, supporting the recurring
donation. Gentry thanks those
If Darlene’s Champions can
Club has served over support the day-to-day operations who are already participating.
“We’ve had a couple put us
and needs of the Nampa Boys &
8,000 children. Girls Club, then grant money and as part of their payroll, which is
donations through fundraisers
amazing,” Gentry said.
And, that gratitude extends
could, hopefully, support building
a second site, or expanding at to the community. Whether it’s
participating schools. a $1 donated, or something else,
Darlene Johnson was one of a child at the Nampa Boys & The Nampa Boys & Girls Club everything helps. Information
the very first “champions” for the Girls Club will be sponsored for just finished a fundraiser that about the Nampa Boys & Girls Club,
Nampa Boys & Girls Club. Many a year, covering their annual $25 collected donations for a new Darlene’s Champions program,
knew her for her print shop that membership cost, and supply special project: a new commercial partnerships, news and more is
she owned in downtown Nampa needs, such as food, crafts and kitchen. The kitchen could host a available at bgcnampa.org.
for over 20 years, but she was athletics. The actual cost to the junior chef program, something “As much as we say it, we’re
also known for her continuous Nampa Boys & Girls Club is $409 Gentry would love to do. so grateful to our community,
generosity to the community. per child. The pandemic, though, and thank you to our current
Johnson donated faithfully The mission of the Nampa Boys highlighted another need. Champions and supporters who
to the Nampa Boys & Girls Club, & Girls Club is “To enable all young “Through COVID, we realized continue to help us serve kids,”
and became a champion when people, especially those who the need to feed kids and families Gentry said. “It’s so hard to give
the program was created around need us most, to reach their full in our community,” Gentry said. them a big enough thank you.”
2014; now, six years later, the potential as productive, caring, When schools closed, the Nampa
sponsorship program is named responsible citizens.” This is done Boys & Girls Club helped serve Facing current
in her honor. “Her presence through socializing, athletic sack lunches, as many as 430 a day. challenges
and enthusiasm will be forever activities, creative activities, “And we’d run out,” Gentry
missed,” the program states. mentorship, and more. said. “We were probably done in Before COVID-19 hit, the Nampa
“It was only fitting to name it Since its opening in 2000, the an hour or hour and a half. We’d Boys & Girls Club had a capacity of,
after Darlene, and her legacy to Nampa Boys & Girls Club has love to continue some of these and was serving, approximately
our kids,” said Melissa Gentry, served over 8,000 children. programs.” 230 children a day for about 230
executive director of the Nampa “Our goal is to [have] 1,500 Currently, Darlene’s Champions days out of the year.
Boys & Girls Club. Champions to offset those costs,” has about 150 members. When COVID-19 hit, “Our
What does it mean to be one Gentry said. “It’s our way to sustain Money can be auto withdrawn building just got smaller,” Gentry
of Darlene’s Champions? It means our current facilities, because we from an account monthly, and said. Capacity was reduced to 130
BECOME A CHAMPION TODAY
Champions are those supporters who commit to a monthly donation
to the Club through auto-deduction. The process is simple: Commit
a monthly dollar amount to our kids by providing BGCN with your
account information for automatic withdrawal. It is your right to
change or cancel your donation at anytime should the need arise.
Please become a Champion for kids and help better the life of a child!
TO DONATE GO TO: bgcnampa.org/champions
