When school’s out, Boys & Girls Club is in

The school bells ring throughout Sonoma Valley every afternoon, and 4,600 students leave their classrooms. When school is out, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley opens its doors to give kids a safe and enriching place to go.

Each afternoon at the club is a chance to support our members’ success in an extended learning environment, exposing them to opportunities that, for many, do not exist otherwise.

Safe and fun, yes. Enriching and life-changing, certainly. Incredible resource for the community with reciprocating impact, absolutely.

Think of the alternative. The 500 youth served at the club every day would not have a place to go, and many would have little or nothing productive to do.

It is the depth and breadth of the continuum of service provided at the club that is so inspiring. Our team of dedicated, competent and caring staff develop meaningful and lasting relationships with our members – from 6 to 18 years old.

First-graders are read to, music and dance are available for our middle school members, homework help is on hand for all, and we have a major commitment to college preparation and career readiness, culminating in post-graduation plans for our high school members of the club.

We refer to a roadmap to success at the club, rooted in our priority outcomes of academic success, good character and citizenship, along with healthy lifestyles. It is a tangible benefit that our youngest members experience as care and guidance and activities, and our teens understand as tutoring, college tours, career workshops, case management and, ultimately, graduating with a plan.

None of this happens without a community that believes in the club and in our ability to nurture and guide the most valuable resource in a community – its youth. You make this possible through your support, your time and your resources. If you have been involved with boys and girls clubs somehow in our 52-year history in Sonoma, thank you. If not, there is no time like the present to do so. Find out how at bgcsonoma.org.

Coming up next month is one of our more important fundraising events. And I am happy to report that our 11th annual Fashion in the Vineyards, which will be held at John and Nancy Lasseter’s Train Barn in Glen Ellen, is officially sold out.

Fashion in the Vineyards, chaired by the talented Dana Freudenberger, is hosted by presenting sponsors John and Nancy Lasseter, Lasseter Family Winery and EDK. The event begins at 5 p.m. at the fabulous Lasseter Train Barn, featuring the original, classic Disney steam trains renovated to pristine condition by John Lasseter, chief creative officer at Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.

Culinary delights will be generously provided by Sonoma favorite, EDK. An array of sumptuous and savory hors d’oeuvres and cocktails will start the party at 5 p.m. Following the glamorous fashion show, a midnight feast will be served by EDK for revelers who want to dance the night away.

Helen Lyall’s fabulous fashions for women will be shown alongside Scott Lyall’s styles for men. Sonoma Old School will show fashions for Sonoma Valley teens and tweens, and Half-Pint will outfit our youngest community members.

Tainted Love will perform in concert after the runway fashion show, for guests to groove and dance to until 11 p.m. A VIP lounge with a specialty Sidecar cocktail will be hosted by BevMo.

All proceeds from Fashion in the Vineyards benefit teen programs, including the newly launched Future Focus program. Future Focus will build on the success of College Bound to expand teen programs to reach a broader teen population, with the vision that all teens in Sonoma Valley, especially those that need us most, reach their full potential. Future Focus will serve as an umbrella program that will consist of the College Bound program, a career readiness program and at the core, a personal exploration component that will serve as the foundation to assist and guide teens in developing a viable college or career plan.

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David Pier is executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley.