Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Nonprofit Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Boys & Girls Club asks Plymouth to consider restoring city support to $35,000 as budget talks begin
Summary
Andrew Fitzpatrick, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Marshall County, asked councilors to consider restoring annual city support from $25,000 toward the club’s historical $35,000 level during the upcoming budget process, saying the organization now operates on a $1,000,000 annual budget and serves vulnerable youth.
Plymouth — Andrew Fitzpatrick, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Marshall County, and board member Gina Howell urged the council Aug. 11 to consider restoring city support to $35,000 annually, telling councilors the organization’s budget has grown to about $1,000,000 and that every dollar from the city matters.
Fitzpatrick said the club has depended on city contributions historically and that federal and other grant funding has declined in recent years. “We were surprised when it went to 25,000 a year from the city,” he said, asking councilors to consider restoring the prior level of $35,000, which he said represented about 3.5% of the club’s annual budget.
Fitzpatrick described a recent incident in which staff intervened to get a 14-year-old member, who had pulled a knife at school and later came to the club, the help he needed. He credited the club’s trained staff with stabilizing the situation and working with police and family to keep the child safe.
Council members said the request will be considered as part of the fall budget process and asked staff to locate records of prior city contributions and any formal commitment. The mayor and councilors said they plan to review the club’s request and the city’s promotion and budget lines to determine what is feasible.
What happens next: Councilors and staff will review budget options over the next 30 days and look for documentation of past funding levels before making a decision.
