URGENT UPDATE: The countdown is on! The Let’s Play Ball Drive campaign is racing towards its goal of collecting 2,500 new sports balls for the Boys & Girls Clubs kids, with only days left until the December 28 deadline. Time is running out, and community support is critical to achieving this milestone.
The campaign has already secured 2,047 balls in Long Beach and over 1,500 balls in the Daily Breeze area. However, CEO Don Rodriguez emphasizes that there’s still a way to go to unlock a vital $10,000 matching donation from an anonymous “angel donor.” “We’re very close to reaching our goal and unlocking the magic gift from our angel donor,” Rodriguez stated.
With the total target of 5,000 sports balls combined for both the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach and the L.A. Harbor, community involvement is essential now more than ever. The annual campaign, sponsored by the Press-Telegram and Daily Breeze, seeks to bolster team-building and keep kids active, steering them away from the streets during the holiday season.
Rodriguez urges supporters to take action: “Every donation helps our kids and makes a real difference in their day.” Donors can participate by purchasing sports balls from Big 5 Sporting Goods, which is offering a 25% discount on any regularly priced sports balls bought for the campaign (excluding golf and tennis balls).
Locations to donate include:
– Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach: 3635 Long Beach Blvd., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday.
– Big 5 Sporting Goods: 4780 Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, and 5247 Lakewood Blvd., Lakewood.
– Various restaurants: Phil Trani’s Restaurant and Boathouse on the Bay in Long Beach.
– First Bank locations across Long Beach and Lakewood.
Donations can also be made online through the Boys & Girls Clubs’ Amazon wish list at bgclublb.org/Joy. As we head closer to the holidays, your support can profoundly impact the lives of many children in our community.
Tom Bray, senior editor of the Southern California News Group, expressed confidence that the community will rally. “They just need a little more time. We know our readers will come through,” he said.
With the deadline extended to December 28, now is the moment to act. Every ball donated contributes to a brighter future for the kids in Long Beach and the L.A. Harbor. Spread the word and make a difference today!
