Boys & Girls Club Of Oklahoma County Nets $1M Donation

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County received a $1 million donation this week from Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, part of a $1.5 million gift the Oklahoma City-based company made to the United Way of Central Oklahoma's COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City received $500,000 as part of the donation.

"The support that the Boys & Girls Clubs, Catholic Charities and United Way have provided during the pandemic has been the lifeblood for so many in our community," said Jenny Love Meyer, executive vice president and chief culture officer for Love’s. "We are proud to assist these long-standing partners of Love’s and help enable them to continue their outstanding work."

"We are so grateful for the partnerships we have enjoyed for the past 25 years with Love’s Travel Stops, the Love family and the United Way of Central Oklahoma," said Teena Belcik, Boys & Girls Clubs’ president & CEO. "This generous gift will provide academic and other support for students and their families throughout the pandemic, while observing strict COVID-19 safety protocols at all of our Boys & Girls Club Hope Centers. Without this vital support, many youth in our community would be at home alone without supervision, internet access, online learning support or food, and would be falling further behind in school. We have the incredible honor of serving youth in Oklahoma County, and this gift helps ensure children and their families have the opportunity to succeed during these unprecedented times."

"Catholic Charities is thrilled at the generosity of Love’s Travel Stops and its partnership with the United Way of Central Oklahoma to provide such an impactful gift to help those most at risk due to the coronavirus – the homeless, those who lost jobs, those needing food assistance," said Executive Director Patrick J. Raglow. "Catholic Charities will apply these funds to help individuals currently homeless or at risk of homelessness because of the pandemic. Catholic Charities and those we are privileged to serve are grateful to Love’s for this awesome and timely gift. May God bless them and all who keep the needs of the poor close to heart."