Peninsula groups receive funding to support youth programs

Daily Press, Josh Reyes, (December 2, 2018)

Two local clubs geared at helping young people fulfill their potential will continue to serve their missions with the help of the annual Daily Press-Ferguson Holiday Fund.

The Boys and Girls Club of the Virginia Peninsula and GIRLS Club are among 19 Peninsula area nonprofits to receive money from the holiday fund.

Now in its 90th year, the fund raises money for nonprofit organizations in the Greater Peninsula area. In the 2017 campaign, the holiday fund raised more than $145,000, which was distributed Oct. 18. Ferguson matches 50 cents for every dollar raised for the first $100,000.

Donations for this season’s campaign are being accepted through January. To donate to the holiday fund, visit dailypress.com/holidayfund or call 757-247-4862 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Boys and Girls Club

At its 13 locations across the Greater Peninsula area, the Boys and Girls Club offers kids a safe place to do homework, learn and play after school.

One of the club’s goals is to offer opportunities for youth to explore their interests and find things they enjoy or have a talent in, said Michele Benson, the organization’s chief development officer.

This year, the holiday fund will support purchasing art supplies for the clubs so kids have more chances to learn about art and create work of their own.

Art is one of the club’s five areas of focus, along with education and career development, fitness and recreation, character and leadership and health and life skills. Those areas of focus are designed to help youth be well-rounded and find areas in which they excel or just expose them to something they might not have learned otherwise.

The arts program includes visual mediums such as drawing, painting and photography, Benson said. There are also programs for dance and music.

Benson said some of the work that club members have produced will be put on display at Patrick Henry Mall from Dec. 6-12.

In total, the Peninsula club serves more than 6,000 kids per year. The club has eight locations in Newport News, two in Hampton and one each in York, Gloucester and Mathews counties.

How to donate

By mail: Checks to “PCFVA for Holiday Fund” can be mailed to the Daily Press-Ferguson Holiday Fund, 48 W. Queens Way, Hampton, VA 23669.

In person: 703 Mariners Row, City Center, Newport News

By phone: 757-247-4862

Online: dailypress.com/holidayfund.