AUBURN — Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine has reached its $3 million Great Future Capacity campaign goal. Funds will support increased programming and membership among the five locations in greater Portland and Lewiston/Auburn.

As a result of the five-year strategic planning process beginning in 2012, board and staff leaders recognized the organization continued to serve an increased number of children and teens in greater Portland and Lewiston/Auburn every year. Last year, the number of healthy meals and snacks served to children and teens rose 13 percent to 91,000. As a result, the club’s board and staff leaders created a campaign steering committee led by board members Kathy Coster and Joe Spagnola. They set a goal to raise at least $3 million based on identified, unfunded needs in the years to come.

The campaign was launched in 2013 to support organization-wide needs grouped into five major categories: Academic Success, More Kids, Teens, Safe Places and Healthy Lifestyles. Specific priority needs include expanded club-sponsored transportation, increased academic programming year-round and safety improvements at the three main facilities in Portland, South Portland and Auburn.

An example of success is 18-year-old Christian O’Brien, an Auburn/Lewiston Club member for six years. Recently, O’Brien was named the 2016 Maine State Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America at a statewide competition in Augusta. As a teen member, he’s also a part-time program staff member at the club and has been teaching Karate with Christian for five years to younger members.

FMI: 207-874-1069, ext. 227, [email protected].