BUENA PARK : Smokey Robinson Will Sing at Benefit

Because donations are down, financial times are tough for the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park.

But the club is banking on singer Smokey Robinson, an alumnus of the Chicago Boys Club, to raise much-needed money during a benefit concert this week.

Robinson will perform Saturday at Knott’s Berry Farm Good Time Theatre, and the Buena Park group hopes to raise $30,000.

“This is the first time we’ve done a benefit concert,” said Jean Morgan, club executive director. “The main reason is because we had to find an event to make up for the funds cutback by the United Way.”

In the last three years, the club has seen its annual United Way funding trimmed by about $50,000. Three years ago, the club received $136,000 from United Way. This year the donation is about $82,000.

That has forced the board of directors to either “raise more money, or else cut staff and programs to the kids,” Morgan said.

The club has a staff of 14, a membership of 1,500 young people, ages 6 to 18, and an average daily attendance of 175.

“We understand times are tough with United Way, and we realize they are struggling,” Morgan said. “We’re trying to find avenues to support our club so our organization won’t be as dependent on United Way funding.”

The club’s annual budget is $600,000, including the dental clinic, which offers dental services to disadvantaged families. The organization is currently running a deficit of $40,000 to $50,000.

As a result of dwindling donations, Board of Directors President Greg Sowards said, the club has turned to holding fund-raisers, including selling advertising space inside the gym, soliciting donations from local businesses and holding a golf tournament and a wine tasting.

Concert tickets are $25, $35, $50 and $100. The $100 tickets include a cocktail party that Robinson will attend. Bids are being accepted until Wednesday for “Golf With Smokey,” in which the top two bidders will play a round with Robinson at a local private club.

Tickets or more information are available by calling the club at (714) 522-7259 or Knott’s Berry Farm at (714) 220-5200.