Optimist Club of Louisville Supports Reopening Boys and Girls Clubs

The Optimist Club of Louisville has thrown in $15,000 to help support the reopening of three Louisville Boys and Girls Clubs.Last month, the Salvation Army closed all four of its Boys and Girls Clubs due to rising costs and diminished income. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana (BGCK) has since begun a 60-day $500,000 fundraising campaign to reopen three of the closed facilities, seeking both individual donations and large corporate investments. BGCK has raised around $190,000 so far.The Optimist Club joins LG&E, Kroger, Kindred Health and Community Foundation of Louisville in making large contributions to the cause.The Salvation Army clubs served around 1,700 members. Kentuckiana has since begun daily transportation from the former Parkland and Portland clubs to its Shawnee facility. The transportation service will continue indefinitely, said Jennifer Helgeson, president of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana.Metro United Way previously invested $350,000 to both the Salvation Army and BGCK for their Boys and Girls Clubs. Officials for Metro United Way said the organization will continue investments with BGCK that were previously awarded to the Salvation Army for its clubs, if BGCK can find a way to restore three of the closed clubs.