Oak Orchard Boys & Girls Club fundraiser set Sept. 17

The Great Futures gala team announced tickets are now on sale for the annual Oak Orchard Boys & Girls Club fundraiser.

The Coastal Clambake by the Bay will be held at 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Peninsula Golf & Country Club in Millsboro. The fun-filled event will feature live bluegrass music, bourbon and beer.

“We are thrilled to be organizing this event for the fourth year,” said Leanne Silicato Prosser, board member for the Oak Orchard club and founding member of the Great Futures Fund. “The community has been unbelievably supportive in helping the vision of expanding this club become a reality.”

The Boys & Girls Club of Oak Orchard currently provides services for more than 100 children on a daily basis in its facility located on Oak Orchard Road in Millsboro.

“We run before- and after-school programs, a preschool, and a summer camp program here,” said Erika Kennedy, club director. “The current programs are running on all cylinders; however, we currently have over 50 children on our waiting list for the 5-12 year old program that would like to attend our club and we simply don’t have the space.”

With the Oak Orchard, Millsboro and Long Neck areas growing quickly, the need for more services at the Boys & Girls Club has become increasingly apparent over the past two years. Previous fundraising events allowed the club directors, in conjunction with the Boys & Girls Club of Delaware management team, to break ground on the building expansion last month. Total expansion project costs are estimated at approximately $900,000 and will add 2,400 square feet of space, and allow for the removal of temporary trailers which are currently being used on-site.

“When the expansion is completed in the next 6 to 9 months, we hope to welcome most of our current wait-listed families and children into the club. We want to provide services to as many in our community as needed,” said Kennedy.

“The theme of the event is more casual this year. But our mission to help the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club and our local families and children remains as strong as ever. In addition, we have some wonderful sponsorship opportunities for local companies and individuals who would like to support the club’s expansion,” said Prosser. “We are extremely grateful for the community support and welcome speaking with anyone who would like to get more involved in providing these much-needed services for our Oak Orchard club.”

To learn more about the Boys & Girls Club of Oak Orchard, contact Erica Kennedy at 302-945-2244. To purchase tickets to the Sept. 17 Clambake by the Bay or to review sponsorship opportunities, go to greatfuturesgalade.com or email info@greatfuturesgalade.com.