Tucson’s disadvantaged youth will benefit from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson’s 10th annual The Event coming up April 17.
The Event offers an evening of food, wine and spirits from 48 restaurants, a chance to win raffled prizes and live entertainment. More than 1,500 people are expected to attend and help raise about $150,000.
The funds go toward the operational expenses of six clubhouses in the city.
The clubhouses provide programs that build character and teach life skills and opportunities for education development. They are equipped with traditional games which also build leadership skills, said Ann Torrez, their special events and fund development manager.
One of the oldest south side clubhouses is the Roy Drachman Clubhouse, 5901 S. Santa Clara Ave. Membership was down at this facility because there wasn’t enough money for sports, which is a huge magnet for the older children, said Jarrett Croft, interim club director.
With the support of the Rollin’ for Niños Foundation and funding from The Event, the basketball league was re-implemented this year. The Event provides money to pay for the league’s staff.
“[It is one of] our most important programs to get the kids in and keep them activated in the system,” Torrez said. She also explained how it provides a safe place for teenagers who may engage in high-risk behavior.
Croft said that being involved with the club and having a place to stay means a lot to a majority of the kids.
“For most of these kids, they would be home alone,” Torrez said. “For some of these kids, they don’t know where they will be sleeping tonight. They don’t necessarily have a consistent home or a consistent place where they go after school, so this is their mainstay.”
This year The Event’s co-chairs are Barbara DeFazio and Richard Bolanos. This is the seventh annual The Event that DeFazio has been involved in because she “wants to help our youth in anyway” she can.
“They are our future,” DeFazio said. “And we need to provide our kids with positive experiences and life skills that will better serve our community in years to come.”
Tucson’s disadvantaged youth will benefit from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson’s 10th annual The Event coming up April 17.