Poway Boys & Girls Club holding fundraiser, spring camp

By Emily Sorensen

It’s time to jump at the chance to support the Poway branch of the Boys & Girls Club.

The Sulpizio Branch - Poway of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego is holding their only fundraiser this month, as they aim to raise $1,500 to fund a number of programs at the club, including the healthy habits program. “This is the only fundraiser we do, and it’s a big event,” said site supervisor Katie Khasim. “All funds raised stay at the facility.”

The fundraising will finish off with a big jump rope event, “Little Jumps Big Changes,” which will be held Friday, March 1 at the club site, 12988 Bowron Road, next to Valley Elementary School. The kids will be having a jump-a-thon, in between music, activities, drawings and raffles.

The kids at the club have been participating in Big Change Friday, where they bring in loose change to contribute to the fundraiser. Khasim reported that the club was already up to $700 of their goal. Last year, the club raised $1,000, which prompted them to raise the goal to $1,500 this year.

Funds raised will go to the healthy habits program, which works to combat childhood obesity, by teaching kids to eat and cook right and move their bodies through cooking classes and daily health and physical education classes.

The Poway branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs is open year-round, averaging about 80 kids daily during the school year, and 150 in the summer. The club is open to grades K - 8, and offers a transport pick-up service from Garden Road, Pomerado and Midland Elementary schools, and Meadowbrook Middle School, as well as a walk-over service for Valley Elementary School. The club is open most school breaks except for major holidays.

The club also offers all-day camps from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for $99 a week. The next camp will be held Monday, Feb. 18 - Friday, Feb. 22, to coincide with the week-long break from school. Grade schoolers get to go on one field trip a week, and middle schoolers go to “Adventure Camp,” which has four field trips a week.

To donate to the Poway Boys & Girls Club, visit www.active.com/donate/LittleJumpsSulpizio. To find out more about the “Little Jumps, Big Changes” event or about camp, call 858-748-9933.