Boys & Girls Club of Oyster Bay-East Norwich hold ‘Celebrate the Children’ Cocktail Party fundraiser

The Boys & Girls Club of Oyster Bay-East Norwich hosted their annual “Celebrate the Children” fundraiser, one of the non-profit agency’s largest fundraising events of the year, on Oct. 18. Hundreds of donors, volunteers and children attended the event, with more participants than in previous years.

The “Celebrate the Children” fundraiser is a departure from the usual golf outings and Ladies Night Out events that the club hosts each year. This event takes place right within the club’s walls, allowing attendees to immerse themselves in the atmosphere that the children experience daily.

Jean Marie Weiner, the executive director, explained that the event’s purpose is to connect donors with the club’s mission and to show them where their contributions are going.

“Usually, you don’t get to come here unless you’re a child, because that’s who we serve,” Weiner said. “So it opens up the doors and lets everybody see what they’re giving to, where their money’s going and how much of an impact they’re really having and providing for us.”

She added that the “Celebrate the Children” theme was chosen to reflect the club’s core values. According to Weiner, it is an annual celebration of the children, the impact the club has on its members, and the vital role donors play in supporting these young lives. The event offers an opportunity for everyone to see firsthand the impact of their contributions.

The evening included a cocktail party held in the club’s gym, with a DJ, cocktails, and delicious hors d’oeuvres. The club’s teams served the food and the children participated by performing and assisting in various roles throughout the event. The celebration included the presentation of the Youth of the Year and Junior Youth of the Year awards, which recognized the outstanding contributions of the club’s young members.

The evening also featured a live auction where attendees could sponsor club activities and send children to camp. There was also a raffle, and all the items from the club’s online auction that ran concurrently were on display. The range of items up for auction was extensive, from wine tastings to overnight stays at a castle.

With approximately 120 guests in attendance, the event was a resounding success, and the club is still tallying the final fundraising numbers. However, Weiner reported that she believed this year’s event surpassed the previous year’s results.

“The event is a celebration of our children, of our members, of the impact that the club is making and the impact that the donors provide,” Weiner said. “The funding we get allows us to provide kids with opportunities they wouldn’t normally get to experience, which is the whole purpose of the Boys & Girls Club.

Funds raised from the “Celebrate the Children” fundraiser will go toward the general upkeep of the club’s facility and support ongoing projects, Weiner added. This includes purchasing new equipment, games, and sporting gear, and expanding their programs to provide opportunities for children to participate in a wide range of activities beyond their regular after-school programs.

For more information on the club and ways to donate, visit BGCOBEN.org.