FAST FACTS
• WHAT: 26th annual Manteca-Lathrop Boys & Girls Club telethon
• WHEN: Monday, Nov, 8, from 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 9, from 4:30 to 11 p.m.
• SHOWN ON: Comcast Cable Channel 97
• MORE INFO: Call the club at 239-KIDS
Kirk Waters knows just how big of a difference the Boys & Girls Club can make in a young person’s life.
He credits a Boys Club - the forerunner to the Boys & Girls Club - located in a tough part of San Mateo where he grew up with keeping him out of trouble.
The Manteca Fire Chief said growing up he’d head to the Boys Club after school, go home for dinner, and then return until closing.
“The club programs helped me build confidence,” Waters said.
Waters credited the club with also helping him build character, noting he has many fond memories of his Boys Club days.
“When I was trying to determine where I could serve (in the community) the Boys & Girls Club was the perfect fit,” Waters said.
Waters is serving as the pledge phone chairman for this year’s 26th annual telethon that takes place Monday, Nov. 8, from 5 to 8 p.m., as well as Tuesday, Nov. 9, from 4:30 to 11 p.m. on Comcast Channel 97.
Pledges will account for the largest chunk of the $120,000 the club hopes to raise this year to fund programs for 1,500 kids at two sites - one in Manteca and the other in Lathrop. Most of the money raised is in the form of $10, $25 and $50 donations.
Nearly 300 people are expected to man the pledge phones over the two-day telethon.
Among the groups that Waters has lined up to work the pledge phones so far this year are the Christian Worship Center, Crossroads Grace Community Church, Church of Latter-day Saints, Manteca Soroptimists, DCS, Lathrop Chamber, Del Webb at Woodbridge residents, Seniors Helping Area Residents and Police, Seniors Aiding Fire Effort, Manteca Interact, the Building Industry of the Delta, Sunrise Kiwanis, San Joaquin County correctional officers, the Manteca banking industry, Manteca High JROTC, Manteca Youth Focus, Lathrop Rotary, Manteca city leaders, Knights of Columbus, and others.
If you would like to help with the phones and pledge collecting contact Waters at 456-8300.
This is the first time in 26 years the telethon is not taking place the week of Thanksgiving. The telethon also will include a live and silent auction that bidders can participate either in person, via phone, texting or the Internet once they are registered
Since its inception, the telethon has raised in excess of $2 million over the course of 25 years. It also involves in excess of 400 people to stage from volunteers manning the phones and collecting pledges to those providing live on-air entertainment.
Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Charlie Halford noted the switch to an earlier date is in response to community changes. Manteca Unified schools in the last several years have scheduled the entire week off prompting many people to plan family vacations. Also a growing number of employers - including the City of Manteca and high-tech firms - are furloughing workers that week which in turn prompts many who have helped volunteer in the past to schedule other things.
For those who wish to help secure auction items or help with other aspects of the telethon contact the Boys & Girls Club at 239-KIDS.
The club has seen an increase in kids accessing programs while at the same time experiencing a drop in revenue. The Boys & Girls Club board has had to reduce staff costs. Even with reduced manpower, the club is working on ways to steer kids into making the right choices as well as provide things for them to do in a safe environment.
He credits a Boys Club - the forerunner to the Boys & Girls Club - located in a tough part of San Mateo where he grew up with keeping him out of trouble.
The Manteca Fire Chief said growing up he’d head to the Boys Club after school, go home for dinner, and then return until closing.
“The club programs helped me build confidence,” Waters said.
Waters credited the club with also helping him build character, noting he has many fond memories of his Boys Club days.
“When I was trying to determine where I could serve (in the community) the Boys & Girls Club was the perfect fit,” Waters said.
Waters is serving as the pledge phone chairman for this year’s 26th annual telethon that takes place Monday, Nov. 8, from 5 to 8 p.m., as well as Tuesday, Nov. 9, from 4:30 to 11 p.m. on Comcast Channel 97.
Pledges will account for the largest chunk of the $120,000 the club hopes to raise this year to fund programs for 1,500 kids at two sites - one in Manteca and the other in Lathrop. Most of the money raised is in the form of $10, $25 and $50 donations.
Nearly 300 people are expected to man the pledge phones over the two-day telethon.
Among the groups that Waters has lined up to work the pledge phones so far this year are the Christian Worship Center, Crossroads Grace Community Church, Church of Latter-day Saints, Manteca Soroptimists, DCS, Lathrop Chamber, Del Webb at Woodbridge residents, Seniors Helping Area Residents and Police, Seniors Aiding Fire Effort, Manteca Interact, the Building Industry of the Delta, Sunrise Kiwanis, San Joaquin County correctional officers, the Manteca banking industry, Manteca High JROTC, Manteca Youth Focus, Lathrop Rotary, Manteca city leaders, Knights of Columbus, and others.
If you would like to help with the phones and pledge collecting contact Waters at 456-8300.
This is the first time in 26 years the telethon is not taking place the week of Thanksgiving. The telethon also will include a live and silent auction that bidders can participate either in person, via phone, texting or the Internet once they are registered
Since its inception, the telethon has raised in excess of $2 million over the course of 25 years. It also involves in excess of 400 people to stage from volunteers manning the phones and collecting pledges to those providing live on-air entertainment.
Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Charlie Halford noted the switch to an earlier date is in response to community changes. Manteca Unified schools in the last several years have scheduled the entire week off prompting many people to plan family vacations. Also a growing number of employers - including the City of Manteca and high-tech firms - are furloughing workers that week which in turn prompts many who have helped volunteer in the past to schedule other things.
For those who wish to help secure auction items or help with other aspects of the telethon contact the Boys & Girls Club at 239-KIDS.
The club has seen an increase in kids accessing programs while at the same time experiencing a drop in revenue. The Boys & Girls Club board has had to reduce staff costs. Even with reduced manpower, the club is working on ways to steer kids into making the right choices as well as provide things for them to do in a safe environment.
