The It Just Takes One Campaign

One day in the life of a child can make a huge impact on their future. One caring adult can create an unbreakable bond with a vulnerable child that will last throughout the child’s lifetime. One Boys & Girls Club can offer hope to an entire neighborhood. One gift from you can open the door to a brighter tomorrow for more of our children. For years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) has looked at different ways to harness the power of our entire Movement to create greater awareness of local Clubs and enable them to raise more operating dollars at the same time. Instead of attempting to find a uniform program, BGCA has created a uniform strategy for annual campaigns. An annual campaign is a classic fundraising vehicle that designates a specified period of time to approach all donors for general operating support. This new strategy has been dubbed, It Just Takes One.

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Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana have kicked off its annual “It Just Takes One” campaign which will run March 1 thru April 30.  The campaign will raise funds for the Clubs’ after-school programs and services for youth, ages 6-18, living in Lafayette, Iberia, St. Landry, and Vermilion.  This campaign seeks donations primarily from individuals.

The campaign’s goal this year is to raise $325,000 for the Clubs’ annual operating budget.  Bob Sellman, Chief Volunteer Officer said, “We are proud to announce that to date, our campaign has raised $75,000 as a result of some early lead gifts and gifts from 100 percent of our board members and staff.  All we need now is the rest of our community to show their support, and we will be able to reach, maybe even exceed, our goal.”

“Our Clubs are making a difference in the community,” added Jerry Prejean.  “Last year, our local Clubs served 3,000 youth.  But there are still many more children in our community that need the kind of positive influence and guidance the Clubs provide, and we want to reach out to these youth and their families.”

Funds raised will help sponsor kids to attend summer camp and provide quality after school programs such as the Power Hour homework help program, computer skills training, career exploration, arts and crafts, fitness and sports, and character and leadership programs such as SMART Moves (a prevention program) and Youth of the Year (the Club’s premier recognition program).

The Boys & Girls Clubs mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need them most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

“The cost of providing the Boys & Girls Club experience to one child for a year is about $1,000″ said Sellman “You can see what a valuable investment that is when you compare it to the cost of incarcerating a youth who went in the wrong direction – usually $50,000 or more.  The Clubs give a good return on investment.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana, founded in 1970 is a non-profit, privately-funded 501{c}{3} organization and depends on private donations and volunteers to accomplish its mission.  The Clubs annually serve some 3,000 youth.  To make a donation or to volunteer, contact the Boys & Girls Club office at 337-268-9555 or visit the Web site at www.bgcacadiana.com
ONE NATIONAL RECOGNITION SOCIETY

As part of the Flooring phase individuals are invited

to join The Jeremiah Milbank Society. This national

society annually recognizes individuals who give an unrestricted gift of $10,000 or more to a local Club in the year the campaign is conducted.

OTHER INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES for Boys & Girls Clubs

The Great Acadiana Running of the Ducks

April 6th, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon Red Lerille’s

Over 25,000 Ducks will take the plunge in Red’s pool.

  • $5 – Duck
  • $25 – 6 Quack
  • $100 – Grand Quack

The Celebrity Waiter Dinner – Vermilion (June)

Upscale Dinner celebrating and out bidding one another all for a great cause.

  • Tables – $800 – $1,000
  • Sponsorships Available

The Home Run Derby – St. Landry (July)

Challenge Police Chief Perry Gallow and see how many home runs you can hit.

  • Sponsorships Available

The Steak & Burger Dinner – October 3rd Cajundome Convention Center

Community Leaders join Club Members for a delightful evening of food and performances by Club Members.

  • Sponsorships Available
The Brudley’s Wild Game Cook-off – Iberia (November)

Cooking teams come from all over to compete.  You will find fun, musical entertainment, auction and some of the wildest food you will ever eat.

Sponsorships Available
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Major Gift Strategy

The major gift strategy is first and foremost about meeting the needs of the donor while providing the donor with a lifetime of new opportunities to positively impact the lives of children at Boys & Girls Clubs.

Planned Giving

A planned gift is any gift of any type that requires both professional assistance and thoughtful consideration of the gifts’ effect on personal, family and charitable goals. Over 80% of all planned gifts come from bequests.

Campaign Strategy

The campaign is defined as: a board driven, volunteer led effort to secure operating funds by obtaining unrestricted gifts from individuals and corporations, during the months of February, March, and April, while demonstrating the impact of our

Club’s mission.

Strategic Goals for 2013

  • 6 months operating reserves in place
  • Engaged board members who understand their roles
  • Functional annual campaign with 75 – 80% donor retention
  • Special events become bonus revenue
  • 75% of operating budget comes from individual donors
  • At least three planned gifts in place – minimum of $500k – $1m in value
  • Major gifts, planned gifts and endowment program in place
  • Strong partnerships and collaborations
  • Healthy children in the Clubs
  • Additional youth being served
  • Additional staff in place
  • Additional mentors engaged in Clubs
  • Additional donors and dollars in support of Clubs
  • World Class facilities, programs, and staff

News

Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana provides a quality developmental program that empowers Acadiana’s youth, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to become productive adults.