News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Jennifer Calery, Alpena Boys and Girls Club vice president, shows off a likeness of what the teen area at a new club building will look like. The new club is expected to open in the summer. Boys and Girls Club vice president, shows off a likeness of what the teen area at a new club building will look like. The new club is expected to open in the summer.

ALPENA — An anonymous donor is trying to help the Boys and Girls Club of Alpena raise the money needed to transition into the new club building being renovated now on Miller Street.

According to Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Brad Somers, a family approached the club just before Christmas and offered a $50,000 donation if the club can raise the same amount as a match.

Somers said the club has about $250,000 yet to raise to meet its $3 million fundraising goal to move into the new facility.

“We’re moving toward the final phase of completion now, and we are trying to get over the hump to make sure we have all of the funding solidified so we can actually move into this building,” Somers said.

The new club will feature a much larger area for teens, which will allow them to enjoy some distance from the smaller children. Somers said teen members are looking forward to the move.

“Teens will be able to be around other teens,” he said. “When teens have their own space, they’re more apt to continue coming back to the club. These kids deserve a space to call their own. The teens are excited about the move.”

The new building also will feature a large kitchen where meals for the kids will be cooked and also classes for them to learn to do some basic cooking themselves. Somers said the building will have a large gymnasium and enough room in the facility to host events, which the club struggles to do now at its current home.

Club Vice President Jennifer Calery said the overall environment at the new club will be much better than the old club, which is about 60 years old. She said a better environment allows for better learning and fun.

“We believe these kids deserve a first-class place they can call home and to know they have a building where it isn’t raining inside of the building when it is raining outside,” she said. “It is really going to be a place where they can excel and get the most out of the programs we have.”

Somers said the donation and the matching funds will be used for secondary projects at the new club, such as fencing, a playground, and other things above and beyond the building’s reconstruction.

The club has wanted and needed a new building for many years but was waiting for the perfect location to become available and for finances to come together.

Calery said planning and fundraising for the new club began in 2018 and, since then, the community has been supportive every step of the way. She said asking for more money for the project is hard but necessary.

“When you get toward the end of a capital campaign, it is always going to be a challenge to raise money,” Calery said. “A lot of people think we already raised the money that we need because they have seen the construction going on. We are grateful for everything that has gotten us to this point we’re at, but the reality is we are not to the finish line, yet. We need people — especially new donors — to help us get to that finish line.”

Somers said donations can be made online through the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan at bgcalpena.org and click on the capital campaign donation tab. The club is also accepting dropoff donations at the current club on River Street.

Calery said people and businesses can also get their name on the donor wall that will be at the new club and there are other sponsor opportunities.

She said to contact the club at 989-356-0124 for more information.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.