The Long Beach Century Club continued its annual tradition of making a large gift to the local schools this week, donating $80,500 to Long Beach State, LBCC, and the middle and high school sports programs in Long Beach. The donation represents the largest of the annual gifts the club has made, buoyed by fundraising efforts including their membership drive as well as their annual golf tournament.
“This might be my favorite night every year,” said Century Club president Mike Fillipow. “This is what the Century Club is all about–giving back and helping our schools.”
Representatives from each school were on hand for the meeting, which was hosted in LBCC’s new state of the art aquatic facility (with catering by local stalwarts Naples Rib Company). Long Beach State received $12,500 plus a $2,500 donation to the club’s endowment with the athletic department; LBCC received $7,500; all of the high schools received $3,000; and all of the middle schools received $1,500.
The club’s relationship with the Long Beach Unified School District’s middle schools is especially strong since the Century Club raised money to keep the LBUSD’s All-City middle school sports programs going when they were on the chopping block in 2008.
Each school spoke a little about what they’d do with the money, with plans ranging from covering tournament fees to buying new equipment and uniforms to hosting banquets or purchasing banners to help with the costs of postseason honors.
Fillipow made a challenge to the Century Club membership on hand, saying he’d like to see next year’s donation top $100,000.
“It’s going to take all of us working together to make an even bigger impact,” he said.
Disclosure: The Century Club has donated money to the562’s non-profit.
