The Mahomet Area Youth Club is taking their “hats off” to the Mahomet community.
“We are celebrating YOU, the Mahomet Community,” Executive Director Sara Balgoyen said.
This year’s annual fundraiser, “Hats Off to our Community Supporters” give a nod to contributors who make it possible for the youth organization to serve children on a day-to-day basis.
“Funding has been impacted due to COVID- especially with our fundraising events, the Auction & the race (Run Mahomet),” Balgoyen said. “The long-standing events that have provided a large portion of the funding for 25+ years were impacted in a big way in 2020 & 2021. But, thankfully, MAYC donors and supporters continued their commitment to the organization so we have been able to stay open throughout the pandemic.”
That means that out-of-school and afterschool programs are available for youth in first through ninth grade, that a free afterschool program is available for junior high students to be safe, supervised and have fun with adult mentors, homework help, activities that support social and emotional development.
MAYC also provides financial scholarships for qualifying families for the elementary afterschool programs offered through the district- Kids Club & BLAST, all day camps during winter, spring and summer break for all ages.
“These are open to everyone, are low cost and have a sliding scale fee based on household income,” Balgoyen said. “The camps include lots of fun activities, opportunities for socialization, and experiences that are important to positive youth development.”
One of the byproducts of this type of care is that about 20 to 30 high school and college students are employed throughout the year, earning valuable life skills and job experience.
To do this work, though, MAYC needs continued financial support. The annual “Hats Off” fundraiser provides that, and also gives the community a time to celebrate all the work MAYC does.
This year’s event is two-fold: an online silent auction will be held from March 1-5 before tables at the iHotel are filled at 5:30 p.m. on the 5th. Individual tickets to the event, which will follow the University of Illinois COVID-19 protocols, are $80 each. This includes dinner and drinks (soda, wine, beer).
There will be more than 50 packages to choose from in the silent auction including several new packages including experiences like the Nascar experience, Churchill Downs Experience & Chris Stapleton concert.
