Beach party raises funds to support Toledo youth
Written by Caitlin McGlade | | news@toledofreepress.comOn Aug. 15, Maumee Bay State Park will transform into a sandy dance party with rows of food and service vendors, supporting nearly 1,000 guests serenaded by various music groups.
To support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo and enjoy a summer evening on the beach from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., guests can attend “Barefoot on the Beach” for $100 per ticket by ordering online at barefootatthebeach.org by noon on Aug. 15. Attendants must be 21 or older.
Approximately 80 percent of the proceeds from the event go to the Boys & Girls Club, making it one of the largest fundraisers for the club, said Billy Mann, special events coordinator for the Boys & Girls Club.
Last year, the event raised $120,000, Mann said.
This year, will involve 12 vendors serving anything from Middle Eastern food from Beirut to “gourmet sliders” from Manhattan’s Restaurant to artistic cakes from PM Frosted Fantasies.
Bands will also entertain partiers, accompanied by bonfires and fireworks later in the evening, Mann said.
Massages, a beauty bar and pedicures and manicure stands will also be available at the park, he said.
The $100 ticket does not cover drinks that guests can buy at the cash bar, he added. Drinks start at $2.
Despite the $300 it costs to support each member of the Boys & Girls Club annually, youth can buy an annual pass for $3 because of events like this one, funding from the United Way and some state grants, Mann said.
The club has an art room, teen lounge, swimming pool and gym among other facilities or activities for Toledo’s urban youth. Employees also offer homework help and tutoring, Mann said.
Members can also attend a week-long camping trip in Michigan for hiking, boating and fishing for $20 each.
“It’s truly something kids would not experience around Toledo,” Mann said, adding that Barefoot on the Beach makes the funding available to do such trips.
Tags: Boys & Girls Club
