BUENA PARK : Patron Deeds Land to Boys & Girls Club

Edith Rehnborg has always had a special affection for the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park.

Rehnborg founded the club with her late husband, Carl, in 1952.

And after 40 years, she still hasn’t forgotten about making life better for the children by assuring that they have a place where they can reach their potential.

Rehnborg, 90, and Irvine attorney Martin B. Weinberg have deeded 36 acres of land they own in Sierra Vista, Ariz., southeast of Tucson, to the club.

The deed was presented to the club Saturday night at the youth organization’s annual awards dinner at Los Coyotes Country Club.

“I did it because Edith is a very old friend and partner and has always had a special place for the Boys & Girls Club,” Weinberg said. “We decided it would be an asset to the Boys & Girls Club to help supplement their budgetary needs.”

Jim Alexander, treasurer for the club’s board of directors, said the property will likely be sold and the money placed in an endowment fund to help pay for the club’s operating expenses.

Alexander said the property sale could net about $200,000.

“The generosity is overwhelming,” Alexander said. “But this going into the endowment fund will perpetuate the club as well as retain the name recognition with the Rehnborg family.”

In other club recognition, Shelly Aros, a lender service representative with Avco Financial Services in Irvine, was also honored as Volunteer of the Year for coordinating a corporate task force that made major renovations to the club last year.

Aros, 32, chaired the task force of 32 Orange County corporations and hundreds of employees who volunteered their time to make improvements to the club last May. Renovations included refurbishing the wood shop and ceramics room, building a new computer center, remodeling the kitchen and putting shelves in the library.

The work was valued at $285,000 in contributions and volunteer hours, Aros said.

Aros was surprised to receive the club’s honor for leadership in volunteer community service.

“To be recognized was really special,” Aros said.

She said the satisfaction was not in getting the award, but in helping others less fortunate.

“It’s just as simple as that,” she said.

Corporate contributors, including Nutrilite Products Inc., Takeda, U.S.A. Inc., Chevron Corp. and the Knott family, were also recognized for their support to the club.

The club is on Knott Avenue north of La Palma Avenue and has a membership of about 1,500 youths aged 6 to 18.