Secret donor seeds Wellington Boys and Girls Club building fund with $1 million

Wellington Mayor Tim Singewald opened the eighth annual Wellington Boys and Girls Club Mayor’s Recognition Night with a welcome to Chamber of Commerce members in attendance at the Leeper Center on Jan. 19. Retiring chamber board chairman Wendell Nelson introduced Heather Zadina, chairwoman for the coming year.

The mood was festive as Rob Klein, Wellington unit director for the Boys and Girls Club, spoke about a successful year which included serving 275 youth, a high percentage of them from “unique” or single parent families. The organization has been in Wellington since 1994 to serve young people from disadvantaged economic, social and family circumstances.

Junior youth of the year Earl Ward and 2016 youth of the year Beth Ward each took the podium to describe their experiences as long-time Boys and Girls Club members. Beth, a freshman at Poudre High School has been a Boys and Girls Club member for eight years and this summer became a junior staff member. She likes to sing, draw, take photos and participate in roller derby. She looks forward to a career in child protective services. Her brother Earl has been a Boys and Girls Club member for seven years. He participates in several of the club’s programs, is a community volunteer and is determined to be a leader.

Mayor Singewald and unit director Klein then recognized youths of the month and handed out award certificates.

“Connecting for Great Futures” is the theme of the annual Larimer County Youth of the Year breakfast will take place February 9 at Embassy Suites and Conference Center in Loveland. For information and to register to attend the event see https://gool/dSOpH1.

Boys and Girls Club executive director Kathi Wright closed the official portion of the event by sharing news that an internal campaign is currently underway to raise funds for a new Boys Girls Club building to be constructed on land across from Wellington Middle School. Designed by local architect Chuck Mayhugh, the 18,400 square-foot building will accommodate more than 150 young people.

Wright surprised the audience by sharing a “sneak peek” announcement that an anonymous donor has stepped forward and committed $1 million to the fledgling building fund. “I wasn’t supposed to tell, but I just had to share this news,” Wright said, indicating that after a long wait, the building is about to become a reality.

Before the evening was over, youth of the month winners lined up for a group photo
They are as follows:

January, Shandi Bailey, Ryan Cannon, February, Dakota Duncan, Cheyenne Crum, March, Ciera Aklllisobn, Kadence Pflipsen, April, Hunter Ward, Alejandro Quintana, May, Earl Ward, Logan Mulhall, June, Harley McNulty, Brenda Desantiago, August, Issac Herrera, Maurice Grimsley Jr., September, Arian Smith, Chelsi Shelleman, October, Lilliana McMorrowe, Kamryn Johnson, November, Illyria Billingsley, Asha Garner, December Raigan Powers, Sierra Brockman.

Some stunning examples of artwork by Boys and Girls Club members were on display near the food table, which proved to be an especially popular spot.