For the City Times

With $20,000 from United Way of Portage County special allocations funding, the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County launched a new site in Rosholt at the start of the school year.

The Boys & Girls Club of Portage County approached United Way of Portage County for funding after a steering committee comprised of parent volunteers and school district staff determined a site was needed in Rosholt.

Boys & Girls Club of Portage County Director of Development & Marketing Brittany Melby said that by having the new Rosholt site open, the Boys & Girls Club reaches a new set of kids and families in the Rosholt area that weren’t being reached before it opened this new site through the help of United Way funding.

“To the Boys & Girls Club, United Way funding means that we are able to extend our reach of programming into the rural parts of Portage County,” said Melby. “This means we are reaching the kids who need us the most who may not have as many opportunities available to them as the kids in or near the city do.”

The Boys & Girls Club Rosholt Extension operates Monday through Thursday after school until 6 p.m., serving students in first through eighth grade. Since opening Sept. 1, the site has enrolled 65 Club members and, on average, has served 35 members daily.

Patti Cahill, United Way of Portage County Director of Community Impact, said special allocation funding allows United Way to assist the Rosholt site in piloting the Boys & Girls Club after-school programming.

“Thanks to the gifts people provide, United Way is able to meet the needs of the community,” said Cahill.

More information about how you can help United Way through donating or volunteering is available online at www.unitedwaypoco.org, by calling 715-341-6740, or by emailing [email protected]

More information about how to receive help is available by calling 2-1-1, United Way’s free and anonymous information and referral service.