For 127 years, the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester has served the community, providing a safe place for youngsters to complete homework, socialize with friends and exercise their minds and bodies. Thanks to donations from initiatives such as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Employees Charitable Campaign (COMECC), the club is able to offer membership benefits to hundreds of children for $25 a year, a fraction of the $500 to $1,000 it would cost without that support.
“The single most important thing that people should know about their donations is that by donating to the club, you are not only helping the young people of the area, but also the community as a whole,” said Ike McBride, director of operations for the club. “When kids are engaged in positive activities in the nonschool hours, they are less likely to get into trouble, especially with law enforcement.”
McBride said COMECC donations help provide many opportunities for children to grow academically, become more creative and learn to live an active, healthy lifestyle. On any given day 400 to 500 children participate in one of 12 programs, in addition to hanging out in the social areas or practicing with the boxing and swimming teams.
With 10 days to go in the annual campaign, the UMass Medical School community has pledged $65,000 to worthy causes throughout the commonwealth, country and internationally. The authorized charitable workplace campaign for state employees offers employee nearly 1,000 prescreened charities to choose from, including the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester.
The 2016 COMECC campaign runs through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Donations can be made online here: https://www.umassmed.edu/COMECCDonate.
All employees who pledge to COMECC by the close of the campaign will be eligible for a raffle. Prizes include restaurant and Hanover Theatre gift certificates, preferred parking spaces, cafeteria vouchers and a grand prize of $100 Target gift card. Last week, 40 UMMS employees won raffle prizes.
Related story on UMassMedNow:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Employees Charitable Campaign launches Nov. 7
