Membership Due Increase

July 21, 2017

Dear Parents & Guardians,

We hope you and your families are doing well and enjoying your summer. We are reaching out today to share with you some important changes that the Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro (BGCP) will be implementing in September 2017.

Our organization’s top priority is the safety and well-being of our members. As we continue to evaluate and improve our overall delivery of services to youth and families, our operating costs continue to increase. The annual cost for the Clubs to provide services to a single child has more than doubled over the past 10 years with the overall expense per child today averaging over $3,000 per year. Historically, the organization has asked families to contribute a small fraction of that cost through nominal membership dues, with the majority of our funding coming from the generous support of donors and partners.

Beginning in September, our membership dues will increase to $100 a year per (Inukai & Regence) and $250 a year per (Blazers, Rockwood, Wattles, Oak Grove) child for youth in 1^st through 6^th grade. In staying true to our mission of serving young people who need us most, through payment plans and a limited number of scholarships for qualified members, we are committed to working with all our current families to make this transition as easy as possible. This change will help us enhance the overall Club experience for members, strengthen our ability to provide safe and valuable services to our youth and their families, and better maintain our buildings and equip them with the resources that are proven to enrich the lives of those we serve.

At this time, memberships for teens in grades 7^th through 12^th will remain at $5 a year.

We recognize that this change will be difficult for some families. Please know we are here and available to discuss options for your child and answer any questions you might have. We will also be hosting meetings at the Club for parents and guardians to discuss this transition in the coming weeks.

Thank you for entrusting us with your children; it is our privilege. We will continue to strive to provide our members with unique and meaningful experiences that broaden horizons and encourage them to become productive, caring community members. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with our families to help all our youth reach their full potential.