MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
SALINA, Kan. — A $500,000 matching gift from the Augustine family is jumpstarting efforts to launch a Boys & Girls Club in Salina, fulfilling a long-awaited vision for expanded youth services in the community.
The donation, made through the Augustine Family Donor Advised Fund at the Greater Salina Community Foundation, honors the legacy of Ted and Almita Augustine and offers a dollar-for-dollar match to support both the new Club’s startup operations and long-term sustainability.
“This matching gift challenge is a game-changer,” said Lance Patterson, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson, which is partnering on the Salina initiative. “It helps us meet the immediate needs to open our doors, while also building the foundation to serve kids for generations to come.”
Every dollar contributed to the endowed “Boys & Girls Club of Salina Fund” by December 31, 2025, will be matched with an equal amount designated for operational support, effectively doubling each donor’s impact. The Club is expected to open by the end of 2025 at Oakdale Elementary School, with plans to offer academic, leadership, wellness, and career-readiness programs. A future facility is planned for the Sunset Park area.
“Our families are excited to support the start of a Salina-based Boys & Girls Club,” said Donna Augustine-Shaw and Mark Augustine in a joint statement. “This initiative connects our parents’ belief in education with a powerful, lasting opportunity for Salina youth.”
The project has been championed by longtime educator Millie Moye, who worked with a dedicated advisory board and local partners to bring the vision to life.
“This has been a dream in my heart for over 20 years,” Moye said. “The Augustine family’s support is lightening the table, so that all children have a spot at the table. That is so profound.”
Supporters are encouraged to act quickly to meet the matching challenge. Contributions can be made online at gscf.org, by check with “Boys & Girls Club” in the memo, or by calling (785) 823-1800 to discuss options such as IRA distributions, gifts of stock, or other non-cash assets.
According to the Boys & Girls Club, every $1 invested in its programs returns more than $10 in economic benefits to the community.
“This is our moment,” said Patterson. “The Salina of tomorrow will be shaped by how we invest in our kids today.”
For more information, visit gscf.org or contact the Greater Salina Community Foundation.