Nonprofit exceeds capital campaign goal with $500K donation

Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield exceeded a capital campaign goal with a $500,000 donation from the O'Reilly family.

The nonprofit raised $1.3 million, surpassing its $1.2 million goal, for a new club and workforce development program at Williams Elementary School, according to a news release. The club will be named the O’Reilly Unit at Williams Elementary in honor of the donation.

“As a family, we are all thrilled to be a part of this incredible project and to assist with the amazing work of the Boys & Girls Clubs in supporting, lifting and shaping the kids and families in our community that need it the most," said Tim O’Reilly, CEO of O’Reilly Hospitality Management LLC, in the release. “Personally, I am also looking forward to my company working with the club to initiate the workforce development program, where we can help club kids and their parents prepare for and find employment opportunities and fight for a better future."

Construction started last June on the Williams Elementary club and is slated for completion in May. The O’Reilly Unit will have 4,000 square feet of dedicated club space, as well as 18,000 square feet of shared school place, including the gym, cafeteria and technology lab.

Boys & Girls Clubs is planning to launch the unit during the fall 2021 semester, according to the release. The unit will serve approximately 500 children per year, with a projected average daily attendance of 200 members.

Other donations to the capital campaign, which was conducted completed in less than a year, include $100,000 apiece from the Hatch Foundation, Jon Risdal and Randy Voss, and $50,000 apiece from SGC Food Service, Jim Moore and Mike Vogt.

“It is difficult to adequately express my gratitude for … this community," said Boys & Girls Clubs CEO Brandy Harris, in the release. "It was an integral part of our organization’s vision to expand services and better serve our kids and families."

Boys & Girls Clubs last month ranked No. 9 on Springfield Business Journal's list of the area's largest charitable nonprofits. Boys & Girls Clubs reported 96 employees, the ranking criteria, and a $4.2 million operating budget.