S.L. Boys & Girls Clubs open to others

Boys and girls in the south Salt Lake Valley who have been shut out of area youth development and socializing clubs on Fridays due to budget cutbacks can use their memberships at the Greater Salt Lake Boys and Girls Clubs.

The Greater Salt Lake clubs are doing what they can to give kids a place to go at the end of the week, in particular, and the admission cards will be honored at the downtown area facilities all week.

"In these tough economic times, community-based agencies like Boys & Girls Clubs are needed more than ever," said LeAnn Saldivar, the clubs' president and chief executive officer. "We are seeing increasing numbers of kids at our doors, as families struggle with unemployment and other financial strains. The community must remember that the well-being of our children is a top priority, and that we need to continue providing safe havens, and hope and opportunity for our kids."

Club members from the Murray and Midvale locations are welcome to attend any Salt Lake City location any day after school until 6 p.m. and will not be required to pay the $10 annual fee normally charged for membership.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake operates locations in Sugar House, Poplar Grove and Rose Park.

"We are fortunate to be in a position where we can reach out to our neighboring club organization and help serve their members until normal operating schedules can be reinstated," Saldivar said. "However, continuing financial support from the community is critical to our ability to sustain programs for our own members, not to mention those from neighboring clubs. We are most grateful to all those who have stepped up at this critical time and invested in our mission, and we are actively asking for more people to do the same."

Administrators of the Murray and Midvale clubs continue efforts to raise $350,000 between now and the end of their fiscal year on June 30. Donation funds are well over $100,000, development officer Toni Geddes said. The shortfall is due to several usual donors not being able to give this year because of the stock market and the stalling economy in general, she said.

Both appealing for public funds and the closure are firsts for the Murray area clubs, Geddes said.

There are eight separate Boys & Girls Clubs organizations in Utah, most with multiple service locations. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake operates Clubs in Tooele and Park City, as well as its three Salt Lake City locations.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake has been serving youth and their families for more than 40 years. They offer youth development programs addressing educational achievement, career exploration, drug and alcohol avoidance, health and fitness, gang prevention, leadership development and community service.

E-MAIL: jthalman@desnews.com