Boys & Girls Clubs of Appalachia present: The Polar Express!

Before our kids went home for Christmas break, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Appalachia celebrated the season and each one of our members with an epic Christmas event!

All four of our Clubs attended the event held at the Harlan Center, which kicked off with Elf Rene giving each child their own bell, sticker, and ticket. Once they had their ticket punched by the conductor, they entered a land filled with crafts, food, and fun!

Each child had their fill of an amazing Christmas ham dinner with all the fixings, followed by a hot chocolate bar and chocolate covered pretzels for dessert! After an amazing presentation of the beloved story book The Polar Express, by our friends at SCORE who were on hand to help out, it was time to watch the film!

We pulled a few strings, and although it was close to Christmas, we were able to get Santa Claus himself to take time to take a professional photograph with each and every one of our members! Not only did members take home this wonderful keepsake photo, they also were surprised with a gift from their wish list which they had written earlier at their Club!

Thank you to all of our wonderful staff, volunteers, donors, and sponsors who made this event possible. This year we had more kids than ever before and our membership keeps increasing. We are deeply grateful for everyone who made this event such a success and a joy for our children and youth. Merry Christmas!

Radio Auction Sets New Record

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Appalachia Annual Radio Auction fundraiser proved to be an outstanding success. Held on Monday December 5th and Tuesday December 6th, the auction was broadcasted over WTUK FM, WHLN AM, Harlan Community TV, and Facebook Live. There was something for everyone. Auction lots included gift certificates to local businesses and restaurants, salon and spa items, and even body art date nights! Cabin getaways, pool and gaming parties, handcrafted wood and glass items, UK basketball tickets and three bottles of rare Blanton’s Whiskey were some of the most sought-after items.

After two nights of auction, over 175 individual items found new homes with the highest bidders. In addition to introducing the items up for bid, our CEO Kateena Haynes challenged staff and board members to call in donations to help the event reach its goals. Many answered the call, including all of our Senior Staff members.

By the end of the auction, we had raised $10, 244—a new record amount for this event! We are humbled to thank everyone who donated items and everyone who shopped the auction. Additional thanks go out to everyone who gave their time answering phones, organizing items, and presenting them during the two-day auction. The support of our community ensures we can continue to create safe, nurturing environments for the children of Appalachia, regardless of their circumstances or socioeconomic status. Thank you!