Recent heavy rains made it clear to Tim Wills, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Harford County, that the roof of the Aberdeen club had reached a critical point. Mr. Wills turned to Susan Kemen of APGFCU for help. Ms. Kemen is senior vice president of lending, a marathon runner and a dedicated fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Clubs. (Earlier this month she raised over $4,000 for the club in the Camp Hidden Valley Trail 5K.) Ms. Kemen enlisted the credit union’s Aberdeen branch manager and Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce member Alicia Figueroa. The three professionals have laid out a plan to raise $30,000 to fund a new roof over the Boys and Girls Club located at 100 East Bel Air Avenue in Aberdeen.
“This is an immediate need,” said Ms. Kemen. “And I have faith in the leaders of our community. We’re going to ask for their help and I know they won’t let the kids down,” she continued.
Beginning with an email campaign in mid-November, APGFCU will enlist the help of Aberdeen businesses and organizations to stage a digital fund raising effort. Following a break for Thanksgiving week, the campaign picks up again the first week of December as the town readies for Aberdeen Community Day, Aberdeen Breakfast with Santa, and the Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 7. The credit union will host lunch in the parking lot of the Aberdeen branch. Hungry shoppers can stop in and feast on pit beef sandwiches and sweet treats—all for a donation to help raise the roof. We are also planning to invite Aberdeen area restaurants to participate in a restaurant week whereby a percentage of sales will go to the club during the first week of December.