With a $4,000 donation from Yacht Haven Grande, St. Thomas will soon be able to welcome Boys and Girls Club members back.
Yacht Haven Grande’s General Manager Chris Petty and Marketing Manager Josalyn Bitterman presented the donation Tuesday to Julie Landreneau, executive director of the Boys’ and Girls Club of the Virgin Islands, and volunteer fundraiser Peter Zachko. The funds were raised during the "Christmas in July" benefit at Yacht Haven, a marina and lineup of upscale shops.
The event featured live music from the Spectrum Band and shops stayed open late with special sales.
Members of the Virgin Islands Hotel and Tourism Association donated prizes that were given away in a raffle, which raised more than $3,300. Yacht Haven Grande came up with additional monies, which brought the total donation to $4,000.
The donation will help the organization to pay for things like electricity bills, office equipment and basically keep the doors open, Landreneau said.
The St. Thomas local club, which closed Dec. 19, was in a building that was condemned, according to those at the presentation. Landreneau said that a new site had been identified, and she was putting last details together before releasing the location, but noted that she was anticipating a mid-September opening.
The club’s membership will be offered for kids ages 6 to 18, and a teen council will set much of the club rules and themes.
"We are shooting for [a membership of] 60 kids," Landreneau said.
