Boys & Girls Club to host 5th annual Gala

Staff report

POLAND

The Boys & Girls Club of Youngstown will host its 5th annual Gala to celebrate 47 years of investing in Youngstown’s youths. The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at The Lake Club, 1140 Paulin Road.

The evening’s theme is “An Evening at the Biltmore” and will begin with a cocktail reception including a martini bar, bourbon bar, champagne bar, chocolate bar and more. After the reception, there will be a variety of food stations such as seafood, pasta and a carving station. After dinner, guests will meet club members, hear their stories, dance to the Ovation Band and have a chance to win prizes including an Ultimate Biltmore Estate Experience in Asheville, N.C.

The club helps serve more than 900 youths each year and is celebrating its accomplishments.

Chris Muransky, past board president and Gala committee member, said, “We’ve always tried to do something fresh and unique, and in recent years have not offered any live or silent-auction items at the event, so that guests may unwind, enjoy great food and drinks and see the inspiring work happening at the club.”

This year, the program has expanded its reach through collaboration with the Youngstown City Schools. It is working with the school district and other community partners to offer academic and enrichment activities during the after-school program for seventh- and eighth-grade students in three schools. The club is one component of the district’s program which lengthens the school day four days per week. It provides increased instruction in math and reading while also providing fun enrichment activities, a healthy dinner and snack and transportation home, all at no cost to families.

Gala tickets are $250 and are available for purchase at www.bgcy.org or by calling Laura Weymer at 330-782-2714, ext. 104. Sponsorships are still available for purchase.

The Academic Success sponsors for this year’s event include the DeBartolo Corp., the Muransky Companies, RT Vernal Paving, Sweeney Chevrolet and WKBN.