Youth Club Can’t Pay to Operate New Room

A $250,000 renovation of the Boys & Girls Club of Placentia that included an added arts-and-crafts room has been completed.

But the new room remains empty.

The club has no money to hire an arts-and-crafts instructor to start the program, said Al Rizzo, executive director.

Grant money, corporate sponsors and donations paid for the renovation project, and volunteers helped perform the work in June.

Upgrades also included painting the building’s interior and exterior; improvements to the weight room and boxing ring; new carpet, and updating the computer lab.

“The club looks really good--like a new facility,” Rizzo said.

The club, which opened at 132 E. Crowther Ave. in the early 1970s and serves those age 7 to 21, receives about $20,000 annually from United Way to help pay for its operation expenses.

But in July, Rizzo said, the club’s United Way funding was cut by $1,000 a month. “So that hurt us,” he said.

As a result of the funding cutback and to save money, Rizzo, said the club also is not replacing two staff members who recently left.

Now, Rizzo said, the 650-member club is seeking community donations to raise money to hire the arts-and-crafts instructor and someone to work in the computer lab.

Information: (714) 528-8140.