Boys and Girls Club gets big boost from Toyota Financial Services

The Guadalupe branch of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the East Valley held its annual Thanksgiving dinner Thursday night, and with the help of Toyota Financial Services, there was much for which to be thankful.

As part of its Making Life Easier for YOUth initiative, the Toyota Financial Services Customer Service Center in Chandler donated $50,000 to the club to support its after-school programs. Jennifer Snyder, the Guadalupe branch executive, said she was shocked.

"There was a bit of disbelief and then a sigh," Snyder said. "Wow, for these programs that we do, that's more resources that we have. It's paper. It's pencils. Everything from nuts to bolts."

As an additional surprise, the company also gave $50 Food City gift cards to 125 families.

The Arizona Grand Resort provided most of Thursday's meal, with additional help from donations and volunteers from Starbucks, Philip Morris and various groups from of Guadalupe.

Snyder said it was the biggest Thanksgiving dinner she's seen in five years at the branch.

"I don't know what it is. Is it the economy? Are we becoming a bigger community partner?" Snyder said. "I think it's a combination of both."

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the East Valley offer supervised after-school programs for about 1,500 youth every day, providing academic support, sports, leadership skills and career enrichment, according to the organization.

Several of the organization's other Southeast Valley locations will have Thanksgiving celebrations next week, and all are open to the community. Although they have received donations from Valley companies, they still need turkeys, stuffing mix, sealed bread rolls, canned vegetables, desserts, mashed potato packages, drinks and other food.

To make a donation, contact Mindee Padilla at 480-820-3688 or e-mail mindeep@clubzona.org. More information on the clubs: www.clubzona.org.