The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Great Lakes Bay Region has promised that this year’s Night to Remember gala will live up to the name, with over 300 guests already planning to attend the dinner on Nov. 13.
Held annually at the Horizons Center, the gala is unique among Mid-Michigan’s many fundraising dinners. The evening is almost entirely presented by the Clubs’ youth members. Each table is hosted by young leaders, many of them 2024 “Members of the Month.” Poets and singers provide the night’s entertainment, and the Great Lakes Bay Region’s Youth of the Year delivers the keynote speech.
“The Clubs have been a powerful force in my life,” Youth of the Year Zaid J., 17, said. “It means a lot that I get to share my story with the people who made that possible.”
Horizons underwrites the entirety of the event, so all proceeds are invested directly in the local Clubs. The nonprofit relies on this gala to support six Clubs across Saginaw and Bay Counties, serving over 1,000 young people each year. The event has also earned generous support from Magline, Garber, Tri-Star Trust Bank, Covenant Healthcare, LiUNA Local 1098, and other local patrons.
“We are so grateful for our sponsors,” CEO Lynn Pavlawk said. “The Bay Region is well positioned for economic revival; a great future is on the horizon. Their investments will help prepare our young people to inherit that future.”
This year, the gala’s cocktail hour will double as a program showcase. When doors open at 5:30 PM, guests will have the opportunity to visit stations throughout the hall with Club members sharing what they learned over the past year. Pinconning youths plan to bring homemade pickles and jellies for attendees to sample; Essexville kids will demonstrate boxing techniques they learned during “Triple Play,” and Saginaw teens will interview guests at a podcasting station.
“This event shines the spotlight exactly where it should be: on our members,” Director of Development Brandon Kathman said. “We can’t wait to celebrate their achievements this past year along with the great future ahead.”
According to Kathman, there are a few remaining sponsorship opportunities, and the hall has space for more attendees. Those interested should email brandon@greatlakesclubs.org or call 989-321-9648.