Camden, NJ– Filet mignon, poached lobster, private jets, dugout seats, swimming with the sharks, winning a Jaguar convertible – The Boys & Girls Club of Camden County is giving a new face to the idea of donating. As part of a large fundraising event, titled the Valentine’s Day Masquerade Ball, the Club is auctioning and raffling off chances of a lifetime.
The Boys & Girls Club of Camden County (BGCCC) is a non-profit organization providing youth development programs to over 3,000 Camden City youth. The Club’s mission is “to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.”
The Club depends on the success of large fundraising events like the Valentine’s Day Masquerade Ball so that it can continue to provide comprehensive youth development programming to Camden youth. Program areas include Education & Career Development, Character & Leadership Development, Health & Life Skills, The Arts, and Sports, Fitness, & Recreation.
The success of these gala events in the past has helped to make the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County one of the premiere youth development agencies serving children in Camden, New Jersey. The Club has proved so successful that it was recently able to open a second facility in East Camden in September 2007. In the three short months between September and December 2007, about 650 members joined the East Camden Clubhouse. That means 650 more of Camden’s children participating in positive activities during the after school hours.
The Valentine’s Day Masquerade Ball is scheduled to take place at the Borgata Hotel & Casino on February 14, 2008 from 6:30 – 10 PM. The Ball is slated to be an unforgettable night, with a first class menu of filet mignon and lobster, and inspirational hosts and hostesses in the form of young Club members dressed as what they want to be when they grow up. This year the Club hopes to raise $1 million dollars.
As part of the excitement leading up to the event, the Club is holding an online auction of exciting items donated by both board members and other generous corporations. On the auction website, www.masqueradeballauction.com, bidders can find items ranging from the luxurious - a private jet for four to the Bahamas for a weekend getaway – to the adventurous – an opportunity to swim with the sharks at Adventure Aquarium.
Another hot ticket item is the brand new, fully loaded 2008 Jaguar XK Convertible the Club is raffling off. Only 800 tickets are being sold for $200 per ticket.
All proceeds from the event, raffle, and auction will go directly to the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County.
The highly coveted raffle tickets will be sold up until the night of the drawing, which will take place at 9 PM on February 14, 2008, at the Borgata. Participants need not be present at the drawing to win.
The online auction is open now until February 14 as well. Those interested can contact the Club directly at (856)966-9700, ext. 222.
