$400,000 Raised for the Boys and Girls Club of Lower Merrimack Valley

Our community raised $400,000 at last Thursday’s breakfast for The Boys & Girls Club of Lower Merrimack Valley. We may be a small community, but we are mighty!

The Chamber hosted a Breakfast Speaker Series event with Stanley Cup Champion Ray Bourque to kick off the capital campaign for the Boys & Girls Club in Salisbury. The event packed the club with over 150 attendees. Bourque discussed the importance of good leadership in young people’s lives and donated $30,000 on behalf of the Ray Bourque Foundation. 

Executive Director Jim Keenan of the Boys & Girls Club of LMV spoke about the club’s programs and described how the $1 million capital campaign will help fund the growing needs of the organization in an effort to keep the annual membership fee of $40 affordable and accessible for all. The local chapter provides after-school resources, summer camps, transportation, mentoring, and a host of other services.

In support of the campaign, Ralph Castagna and Wayne Capolupo together donated $100,000. After their contribution was made, they then made a call to the audience that for a $1,000 donation given at the breakfast, they would match it. Institution for Saving then donated $100,000!

If you are interested in participating in their capital campaign, please consider giving a charitable donation here. The $1 million capital campaign will support the facility’s renovations, scholarships, program resources and endowment needs.

We thank all of those in attendance, with special recognition to State Senator Diana DiZoglio, State Representative Jim Kelcourse, Salisbury Town Manager Neil Harrington, Salisbury Selectman Chuck Takesian, Newburyport Police Marshal Mark Murray, Salisbury Police Lieutenant Bob Roy, Whittier Regional Technical High School Superintendent Maureen Lynch, Salisbury Chamber’s Sarah Bodge, and Amesbury Chamber’s Kassandra Gove.