Friday the 13th will be a lucky day for more than 5,000 young people if Kelle Maslyn and 200 volunteers have their way.
Maslyn and her crew are throwing the Ultimate Party to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Kino Sports Complex.
“The Ultimate Party is a fundraiser with a reason ... because of this fundraiser we can provide services to kids basically for free at six Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson clubhouses citywide,” said Maslyn, who is chairing the benefit with Hans Rhey. “Our fundraisers enable these kids to have a great experience and a safe and healthy place to go after school and during the summer.”
Clubs have a $10 membership fee per child, but that doesn’t cover all the programs offered.
Organizers expect the Ultimate Party to live up to its name. The party will feature appetizers, dinner and desserts, drinks, dancing, music, raffles and a silent auction. New this year is “The Ultimate Happy Hour,” which will offer appetizers, craft beer and cocktail specials from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
“We think this will bring even more excitement to the party. We are hoping that people who want something fun to do on Friday afternoon will think of our event as an opportunity to enjoy an amazing happy hour with friends while at the same time helping local kids,” Maslyn said.
The party is the largest annual fundraiser for Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson. It seeks to raise more than $300,000, which will cover operating costs for one clubhouse for an entire year.
The signature silent auction is billed as “Tucson’s Largest” and has become known as a unique shopping opportunity for attendees and a key factor in the fundraising, according to Maslyn. This year, the auction will feature more than 600 items including art, jewelry, gift certificates to local businesses, recreation and vacation packages, sports memorabilia and more.
“One of the biggest parts of the party that people always look forward to is the silent auction. ... There is something for everyone, and people who are thinking about the holidays are able to get amazing gifts for family and friends at great prices,” Maslyn said.
The evening is enriched by the fact that the money raised is funneled directly toward creating a future for local children, said Lorraine Morgan, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson vice president of fund development and communications.
While clubhouses are strategically placed in areas of urban stress that are easily accessible to children and families who need them the most, Morgan emphasized that club programs are open to all children ages 7 to 17 and the clubs draw children from throughout the city.
“We want to level the playing field and give every kid access to the same opportunities to succeed.
“We are trying to change the conversation about Boys & Girls Clubs a little and focus less on things the kids may not have and focus on the opportunities they do have because of their engagement, involvement and persistence in coming to the clubs and taking advantage of all we have to offer,” she said.
Morgan continues to promote awareness that Boys & Girls clubs are much more than basketball and recreation: Programming also includes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in an effort to make children comfortable with concepts that will be needed as they progress through school and into higher education.
“We just introduced robotics programs and some advanced technology programming related to digital arts, and the kids are really having fun with all of the STEM programming,” she said.
For many of the children, Maslyn said the clubs provide not only a safe place to go after school while a parent or parents are working, but also mentoring, homework assistance and support as well as “people who care.”
