NEWS

Union Bank Donation Brings Club a Step Closer to Goal

Canyon Country Boys and Girls Club facility receives $25,000 donation.

3/18/2003

By Michele E. Buttelman
Signal Features Editor

The Boys and Girls Club of the Santa Clarita Valley Foundation recently received a helping hand toward its goal to finish funding construction and establish an operations budget for the new Canyon Country Boys and Girls Club facility scheduled to open in June.

Ron Kendrick, executive vice president for Union Bank of California (formerly Valencia Bank & Trust), presented a $25,000 check to Tom Dierckman, Boys and Girls Club board president and Jim Ventress, chief professional officer of the youth organization. The donation was earmarked for the Canyon Country facility.

A $1.2 million community campaign, co-chaired by Tom Veloz and Michael Hogan, has raised more than $500,000 since the campaign kicked off in November.

The $6.2 million Canyon Country facility has received 80 percent of its funding from federal, state and local governments, the William S. Hart Union School District, the City of Santa Clarita and private foundations.  

The Boys and Girls Club Foundation continues to seek funds for the facility from the community. The facility is expected to serve more than a thousand area youngsters and families in the Canyon Country area. The current Newhall Central Facility of the Boys and Girls Club along with the Val Verde and Sierra Vista satellite clubs now serve more than 1,500 SCV children.

John Reardon, Boys and Girls Club Foundation board president, said he is pleased with the efforts of the Canyon Country club community campaign.

“We are at around 50 percent of our goal. I want to encourage people to go out and look at the building — it is really coming along and it is going to be a great facility, “ he said. “The response we’ve received on this campaign has been excellent. I don’t think anyone we’ve asked for help has turned us down.”

Reardon, market president of Union Bank is the former president of Valencia Bank and Trust.

The 27,000 square-foot Canyon Country facility, located on the campus of Sierra Vista Junior High School, will house a large Teen Center, full-size gymnasium, education center, computer lab, game room and art center. Classroom space will be shared with the Hart District and Santa Clarita Park and Recreation leagues will utilize the gym and ball fields during non-club hours.

Campaign co-chairman, Tom Veloz said he is gratified by the community support for the campaign.  “In spite of the competition for funds for so many worthwhile causes in our valley, we are most pleased with the generosity of the great people of Santa Clarita towards the Boys and Girls Club, “ he said. “The club makes a tremendous difference in the lives of thousands of kids and that is part of what makes this a great community. “  

Judy Belue, director of the Boys and Girls Club of SCV Foundation, said she was impressed with support Union Bank has offered the club.

“Valencia Bank was an important part of our community, as well as the Boys and Girls Club and this donation demonstrates Union Bank’s commitment to continue to support our community,” she said.

The Boys and Girls Club of SCV was established by community leaders in 1968. Early club programs were held in small, borrowed locations until 1992 when the club opened a full-service facility in Newhall. The total of area youths expected to be served by the Canyon Country, Newhall and Val Verde club locations is expected to top 3,000.

Community donations allow the club to subsidize membership fees for area children so every child that wants to join the club can afford the $12 a year membership fee.

For more information on the Boys and Girls Club of SCV or to contribute to the Canyon Country capital campaign call 254-2582.

Courtesy of The Signal. Reprinted with permission.

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