As the anticipated opening of the Boys and Girls Club of Durant draws near, the challenge to raise as much money as possible for the club is still on for Bryan County residents. Choctaw Nation Chief, Gregory Pyle and Massey Family Foundation representative, Greg Massey, recently held a press conference announcing a challenge for Durant and the surrounding communities. The two have teamed up for this very important cause and issued a challenge to the community. They are urging the community to raise as much money as possible for the Boys and Girls Club of Durant and they have each agreed to match, dollar for dollar, every dollar raised, up to $250,000. So essentially, every dollar raised is equal to $3 dollars.

Chief Gregory Pyle previously said, “The funding of a Boys and Girls Club is a community effort and this is a way to get the fundraising efforts off the ground. We need the commitment of the community in order for this to be successful.”

The mission of the Durant Boys and Girls Club is “to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” The purpose of the club is “to provide behavior guidance to the youth of Bryan County and to promote the health, social, educational, vocational and character development of boys and girls, without regard for race, color, creed or national origin.”

The club will have different activities for the children. Project Learn, based on Dr. Reginald Clark’s research, “reinforces and enhances” things children learn in school through academically beneficial and entertaining activities. These activities include reading, writing activities, tutoring and homework help. Triple Play, a partnership with Coca-Cola, takes a holistic approach to teaching boys and girls how to make good decisions about nutrition and exercise. The program also strives to emphasize “individual strengths and good character.”

If you or your organization is interested in making a donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Durant, you can mail your donation to P.O. Box 1516, Durant, OK 74702, or drop it by First United, Attention Kari Walker.

For more information visit the website www.begreatdurant.com