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Boys & Girls Club of St. Helena

A New Facility and New Hope

The Boys & Girls Club of St. Helena hired Placemaking Group to help raise awareness of the organization prior to and during a capital campaign and to assist with community relations arising from the location of the new facility.

The Organization Made a Difference
The new Boys & Girls Club was going to be located on the grounds of an elementary school causing neighbors to fear additional traffic and problems from an afterschool program. Placemaking Group interviewed school officials and neighbors from the Boys & Girls Club current location and found positive feelings for the students and the program. We communicated the positive impression through news releases and in interviews with the media. We conducted a series of meetings with the new neighbors to listen and address their concerns, and held one-on-one meetings with city council members.

Creating Awareness for Capital Campaign
Interviews with the children in the program and those who had grown up in the program said all someone in the community – and potential donors – needed to know. Compelling stories were told through :

• Media coverage
• Donor events
• Speaking opportunities
• Collateral materials

Results
The City Council approved the new location for the Boys & Girls Club with overwhelming support from the neighborhood. Fundraising goals were exceeded and additional money was used to begin work on another Boys & Girls Club in nearby Calistoga.

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