From left, Virgil C., Dante C., Carleigh B., Kynzlee S., Kiki F., Mya B., Kayden G., Laine M., Hadleigh F., Zuri W., Carson N., Mineral Wells Unit Director Morgan Hodgson and Camden H. celebrate the organization’s 60th anniversary during a Boys & Girls Clubs of Parkersburg birthday party this summer. The organization is holding its first Great Futures Gala on Oct. 10 at the Parkersburg Art Center. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Boys & Girls Clubs of Parkersburg is throwing a 1920s-themed event for its first Great Futures Gala.

Set for Oct. 10 at the Parkersburg Art Center, the organization will celebrate 60 years and debut an annual event to celebrate all things Boys & Girls Clubs across the region.

“Sixty years of serving a community is such a big deal, we wanted to celebrate it,” said Boys & Girls Clubs of Parkersburg CEO Lynn Reins. “We want our community to hear all the great things going on behind our ‘blue doors’ and share some of the successes we have had. I couldn’t think of a better time to kick off an annual dinner celebration than one for our 60th year. We hope to make this a recurring event with a new fun theme every year.”

This school year, Boys & Girls Clubs of Parkersburg is seeing major growth in memberships, school access and the addition of two sites in Mineral Wells and Glouster.

Last fall, the daily attendance was 89 kids at one site. So far this school year, the Clubs average nearly 200 kids across the three sites, the organization said in a news release.

The organization is well on its way to meeting the goal of providing access to all schools in Wood County. Twenty schools have access through transportation or an onsite Club.

With this growth, it is even more crucial to raise funds to keep the organization growing to serve more kids, more often, the release said.

The Great Futures Gala will be a yearly fundraiser event to help keep Club membership fees as low as possible. Families pay $20 per year, and teens come for free. With a membership comes homework help, free meals and snacks and targeted programming, plus a robust summer program providing hundreds of hours of enrichment.

“Out-of-school youth development is not always easy to access in our communities, but it is crucial. The hours between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. are the most dangerous for youth, with more youth committing offenses and becoming victims of crimes during that time; that is why Boys & Girls Clubs across the country open their doors after school and when schools are closed,” Reins said. “With strong adult mentors, evidence-informed programs, academic supports and positive social interactions with peers, members receive a well-rounded experience and leave their time at the Club more fulfilled and ready to take on the world after high school.”

The Great Futures Gala will include 1920s theming, a full dinner catered by Valley Catering, cash bar by the Lost Anchor, a performance by Track 9, silent and live auction items and a few more surprises.

Tickets are $100 each or $150 per couple. Sponsorships and tickets can be purchased online. The link is on the Boys & Girls Clubs of Parkersburg Facebook page.

“We’d love to see a packed house helping us celebrate 60 years and continue building great futures across the greater Parkersburg area. By investing in Clubs, you are truly investing in the futures of Parkersburg and West Virginia,” Reins said.

More information about the gala is available by contacting Candice Black at candiceblack@bgcparkersburg.org.