For nearly 25 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County (BGCTC) has been engaged with our youth. It began as a dream and vision for a group of community leaders who planned and fundraised the organization into reality. Now, there are nine club locations throughout Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Rochester, Tenino and Yelm that serve nearly 1,900 youth from grades K-12 every year. There are four stand-alone locations and the other five operate in schools. Their life-altering programs are available throughout the year, with different programs running during the school year and summer break.
Every Dollar is Important for Funding BGCTC
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County aim to inspire and enable youth to realize their greatness and reach their full potential. All children and teens deserve the chance to create great futures for themselves. The Clubs operate during out-of-school hours to inspire and guide youth in a positive direction through academic enrichment, service leadership and healthy lifestyle activities. BGCTC believes that providing a safe place to learn and grow while also developing ongoing relationships with caring adults helps to develop character. This inspires hope and creates opportunity.
All of these opportunities cost money. With a yearly budget of $3.6 million, it is important to note that only 30% comes from fees paid by parents and guardians who use the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County. The other 70% is generated through community support coming from individuals, corporations, and events. “We would not survive without this support,” says BGCTC CEO Shellica Trevino. “We meet a critical need for families with low and moderate income. About half of the youth we serve are in this range. We want to make sure that fees are not a barrier.” Additionally, our Clubs are a valuable resource for middle-income families, allowing them to maintain financial stability.”
Youth with housing insecurity can participate without paying the usual fees. BGCTC closes the gap, allowing more youth to participate in meaningful activities.
In-Kind Donations are Greatly Appreciated by Boys & Girls Clubs
You’ve probably seen “In Kind Donors” listed in programs at events. These non-cash contributions to a nonprofit organization may include goods or services instead of money. They are valuable because they help these organizations expand their already stretched budgets to acquire resources that otherwise would not be affordable.
Sunset Air has been a community partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County since its early days. Pete and Kathy Fluetsch started the business in 1976. It has bloomed into an industry leader with expertise in residential and commercial HVAC with service from start to finish and maintenance along the way. Trenton Fluetsch, the grandson, is now the CEO. The transition of leadership from his father, Brian, happened more recently, though Trenton has been working at the company for over ten years.
“Typically, In-Kind support takes place below the radar,” notes Shellica. She wants everyone to know that the long-term support from Sunset Air has made a true difference in the club’s ability to have comfortable and well-maintained environments, which leads to positive outcomes for youth.
“Sunset Air has been supporting since the very beginning,” she adds. When the old Tumwater bus drivers’ lounge was renovated and became our first Club, Sunset Air put in HVAC with air conditioning. “This made for a very comfortable space during our early days in Tumwater, and led to two decades of partnering with Sunset Air, we are very grateful”, says Shellica.
When BGCTC needed guidance on HVAC equipment for the Rochester Club, the issues were evaluated, and recommendations were made. “They think outside of the box to figure out what we need,” explains Shellica. One creative solution involved using a mini-split unit that could be moved to another location when the time came. Sunset Air has also provided on-going maintenance that includes changing filters and walking through the buildings to assess any issues or concerns. “We are so grateful, because these kinds of expenses can be quite burdensome for our nonprofit,” Shellica shares. “We could not have operated the teen program in Rochester last summer without the help from Sunset Air.”
BGCTC would also like to recognize that employees also support the programs by attending events. “We are grateful recipients of their many forms of generosity,” says Shellica. Former Sunset Air Vice President, Kim Dinsmore served on the BGCTC board for over a decade. “Board service is not an easy commitment. They work all year long, advocating for the youth and families we serve” Shellica adds.
Sunset Air: Three Generations of Community Support
The Fluetsch family has a long-standing philanthropic history. Trenton Fleutsch is the current past chair of the Chamber of Commerce. With a business to run and a family that include two very young children, Trenton still makes time to be involved with the community. He also serves on the board of the Hands On Children’s Museum. “My family cares about early education,” says Trenton. “Taking care of kids makes a difference. The Clubs are prime examples of the power of taking care of children.”
Thank you, Sunset Air, for your years of significant support to our local clubs.
You Can Help Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County
- Consider volunteering for one of the annual events such as Youth of the Year, Foundation for the Future Breakfast, Community Field Day, or Born to be Wild.
- Attend one of the events.
- Financial donations are always welcome.
- If your business has services or products to offer on an in-kind basis, you are encouraged to contact the organization.
For more information, go the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County website.
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