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A brand new Boys and Girls Club in West Bremerton is off to a good start, thanks to Kitsap area businesses and individuals who helped raise operating funds at a kick-off dinner held on April 15, at the Admiral Theater. The event was a virtual “Who’s Who” of Kitsap County. Keynote speaker, Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman, shared his personal experiences as a Boys and Girls Club member growing up, as well as some from his career as an executive director of the organization in King County.
The club, which is set to open later this year at the Naval Avenue Elementary School, has been in the planning stage for about three years, with the first step resulting in a new organization — the Boys and Girls Club of Kitsap County. Initially, the club tried to secure a location at the fairgrounds but when that fell through, the school site became an opportunity. The school is “an ideal place,” says Jerry Reid, because it has a gymnasium, a covered play area, a huge library and is a safe and secure area. The club will utilize a portable building at the school and add another portable as soon as the funds are available.
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Reid, who is on the board and on the executive committee of the Kitsap County club, walked his talk, stepping up with wife Nancy and donating $100,000 to the organization through their business, Reid Real Estate. Each Reid agent and staff member has been contributing toward the pledge for several months, and the company is matching the contributions as well as making up for any shortfall in the total amount.
Reid was involved with the North Mason Boys and Girls Club several years ago and says he believes in the organization and its potential to impact youth. He credits one of his real estate agents, former Seattle Seahawks kicker Norm Johnson, as well as Peter Braun, owner of Orchard Foods, the franchisee for Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut, for putting things in motion to bring this opportunity to Kitsap kids.
In addition to the Reids’ donation, Chuck and JoAnne Haselwood and the Uddenberg Family Foundation of Gig Harbor donated $25,000 each, while Peter and Marty Bruan kicked in $15,000, and Cuba Craig, along with Dr. Pankaj and Lori Sharma, added another $10,000 each.
Adding $5,000 each to the total were Mike and Jennee Renee Brown of FPH Construction and Jeannee Renee Salon, Bob Mathwig owner of the Family Pancake Houses, Chris and Harold Rieland of Pacific Northwest Title, Dr. Brian and Kate Wicks, Mike and Elaine Cook, moving company entrepreneur John Loidhammer, and Rick and Kari Wiler of the Haselwood Auto Group. There were also numerous $2,500 and $1,000 donations.
“(The club) will be a safe learning place where people are trying to help the kids so they can learn and improve their opportunities for a successful life.,” Reid said. “These are children who may not have any adults available at home after school, yet they want to share their experiences with adults, talk to them, and find positive role models. The club will give them that opportunity while also providing help with homework along with positive activities,” he added.
The organization is currently scouting additional locations in Port Orchard and Silverdale, but those will not be open until organizers make sure the first site is running well. “We want to make sure the first club is well organized and successful,” Reid says. “It takes a lot of effort and money, and we want to make sure everything is correct.”
The club’s program will range from reading and sports to computers for children ages 6 to 18. The programs will be operated by both paid and volunteer staff, and the board has already hired an experienced executive director, Cinnamon Petzoldt. “She has a lot of experience we don’t have,” Reid says.
Petzoldt’s experience includes working as the executive director for Boys and Girls Club in Sequim and in Burns, Ore., where she initiated the club’s creation.
“The club provides a good environment for kids to grow up,” Reid says. “We need kids to know there is good in this world and it’s not all (about) playing video games or watching TV. They can learn positive things at the Boys and Girls Club.”. |
