The Gorham High School Key Club is in its infancy, but that hasn’t stopped the charitable organization from trying to take large steps.
The club, which started in February, is trying to raise $50,000 for Operation Holiday Cheer by coordinating fundraising efforts through 756 Key Clubs throughout New England and New York.
Key Club is a service program for high school students under the auspices of the Kiwanis Club. Key Clubs exists on more than 5,000 high school campuses.
Operation Holiday Cheer, a Kiwanis program, acknowledges the sacrifices being made by the children of all military families living in New England or New York by offering them a holiday gift.
“It’s a large project,” said Jason Badeau, co-chairman of the Gorham Key Club. “But it’s worth it to help these children out.”
Badeau, whose father, Marc Badeau, is the president of the Gorham Kiwanis Club and who started Operation Holiday Cheer, said his father’s efforts appealed to him and he wanted to help him raise money for the program.
“Being in the Key Club I decided I wanted to honor Kiwanis and help them out as much as possible,” Badeau said.
Badeau, a 16-year-old junior at Gorham High School, joined forces with schoolmate Pat Shaw, a 17-year-old senior. Together, they have gone to businesses in Gorham, Westbrook and South Portland to solicit donations. Most companies have donated about $100 or more in the form of corporate sponsorships, Shaw said. They are also using the help of the club’s 50 members, he said.
“The businesses have been very responsive,” Shaw said. “Many of them think this is a good idea.”
Both Shaw and Badeau have contacted nearly every Key Club through New England and New York via e-mail and telephone. They also sent each club a link to YouTube, where Badeau made a commercial advertising what Operation Holiday Cheer is all about.
Each club is trying to raise at least $150 or more through various fundraisers, such as bake sales and car washes, Badeau said.
“Other clubs love the program and the idea,” Badeau said. “They are all hoping to raise more than $150.”
The Gorham Key Club has taken the lead on its fundraising, with a goal of raising $10,000. It already has $5,000 and has until the end of November to reach its goal.
“I think we can hit that,” Shaw said.
There is also a little incentive for Key Clubs to raise money. An anonymous donor will give $1,000 in the name of the club that raises the most money. Gorham is excluded from that incentive since it has the goal of raising $10,000, but it will also get $1,000 if it reaches its goal.
Operation Holiday Cheer is an appreciation-based program and not a needs-based program, said Margo Badeau, Jason’s mother and the Gorham Key Club’s adviser.
“These kids make a huge sacrifice and never know if their parent will be deployed,” she said. “This is a way for us to show our appreciation.”
The program began last year and through the help of corporate and private sponsorships, Operation Holiday Cheer delivered more than 8,000 gifts to military children in 140 Maine cities in its first year. Because of that succes, the program expanded this year to include New England and New York. The recent growth could lead to nearly 65,000 delivered gifts through this holiday season, Margo Badeau said.
The Gorham-based Kiwanis Club is trying to raise $700,000 for the gift program.
Young Key Club takes on gift-giving challenge
Young Key Club takes on gift-giving challenge
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