Reading, PA- The recent opening of the Pendora Park Olivet Boys & Girls Club at 19th and Forest streets means the organization now has a club in every corner of the city, said Heather Moyer, Olivet’s chief development officer.
In just two weeks, the club registered 119 children as members, and staff members expect that number to climb to 600. The area is home to 3,560 kids in one of the most poverty-stricken parts of the city. The new club now has an average daily attendance of at least 150 children, while serving more than 250 local young people each week.
“Now, every child in Reading has a safe and educational place to go after school and in the summer,” Moyer said.
The Building Better Futures at Pendora Campaign funded equipment and supports the programs of the club. The campaign kicked off in May at Olivet’s 26th annual Steak & Burger Dinner at the Crowne Plaza Reading in Wyomissing.
During the dinner, the club named longtime supporters Arthur and Joanne Haberberger of Reading as Olivet’s 2016 champions of youth. At that time, the Haberbergers offered to donate $25,000 toward the new club in Pendora Park if other donors would contribute $100,000 within the next 60 days.
“The challenge raised $117,000 and the goal was exceeded,” Moyer said.
First Niagara donated $5,000 grant to support the opening of the club’s Pendora Park location.
Courtesy of: http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/olivet-boys–girls-club-opens-at-pendora-park