Craig Callihan, Sales Representative of WoodmenLife Chapter 208 in Bladenboro, presented a small group of Boost the Boro, Inc. members this week with a check in the amount of $5,000 as a contribution towards placing two essential electronic scoreboards at the new McLean Park facility.
According to Boost the Boro President Terry Nance, “As a former coach in the community with the summer youth ball programs, I know there is a significant economic boost to local businesses when these summer ball events can be held in our community. The need to have these operational scoreboards and timeclocks are both requirements for many of the events to take place at a sports park, like the McLean Park facility, and without them, the events will be required to go elsewhere to play”.
Scott Gordon, who is spearheading an active group of dedicated Parks & Recreation volunteer citizens for both the Wateree and McLean Park facilities with support from the Town of Bladenboro, and Charles Peterson of Boost the Boro have collaborated on the issue of the scoreboard needs at McLean Park and have placed an order for both a new digitally-controlled scoreboard for field number two and a replacement of a non-operational remote-control board for the existing scoreboard at field number one. According to Gordan and Peterson, “these recent additions will enable McLean Park to hold multiple events simultaneously at the park.”
According to Don White, Treasure of Boost the Boro, “When Craig contacted me back in September and said he would like to make a presentation to our members at our next meeting to discuss a new grant opportunity that could be beneficial to the broad community, we were more than excited to hear what he had in mind. We had made some minimal efforts at Wateree Park a couple of years earlier, and prior to COVID, we were just getting underway on an adult softball tournament over there to raise some funds for the park, but we always had the McLean facility in the back of our mind. We just hadn’t been able to come up with anything concrete or meaningful to assist the Town in their renewed efforts out there. When the idea was put on the table to partner with Craig and WoodmenLife to make this happen, our members unanimously agreed this was a great idea and one that could be a significant benefit to both the community and the youth programs. It is our hope the town will continue in its support of developing the McLean facility, as well as the Wateree Park facility, and provide opportunities for outdoor recreational activities to the larger community.
Boost the Boro, Inc. is an all-volunteer nonprofit 501c-3 organization with 47 current members. Its number one fund-raising event is the annual Beast Fest which is primarily supported by a growing number of generous business owners and individuals from Bladen and the surrounding counties. All the net proceeds generated from Beast or any other fund-raising efforts of Boost the Boro, Inc. go directly back into the expanded community to support a broad range of community needs and efforts that, in many instances, would not have the necessary funding. Since 2016, Boost the Boro, Inc. has contributed over $350,000 in and around the extended
community.
Individuals do not have to reside in the Bladenboro Town limits or in the 28320-zip code to become a member. Membership is open to anyone who has a desire to be involved and doesn’t require personal recognition but instead has a willingness and commitment to work on various organizational goals throughout the year as a team. Boost the Boro is particularly interested in continuing its efforts and cultivating a new crop of leaders as it continues its phenomenal growth trend. Its mission is aimed at making the community a better place for all to live, work, and raise their families. If this sounds like a group you would like to become involved with, or if you would like to support the organization by donating to help support Boost the Boro efforts, you can reach out to a member or contact them at Boost the Boro, Inc. at Boostheboro@gmail.com or as a PM on their social media pages and someone will be in touch with you right away.
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