Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line sets anniversary party

Press release

The Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line is celebrating its 20th anniversary this week with a community barbecue Friday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the club at 500 First Ave. in Havre.

The event is free and open to the public.

“The Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line is excited to celebrate such a big milestone with our generous community and others who have helped make the last 20 years possible,” said Tim Brurud, executive director of the Havre Encourages Long-range Prevention — HELP — Committee and of the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line.

HELP was started in Havre in 1979 to better educate youth about the effects of drugs and alcohol. Over the years, the HELP Committee has been awarded numerous state and federal grants to do prevention work in this area

In 2001, a member of HELP’s Board of Directors suggested opening a Boys & Girls Club that truly encompassed the club’s mission to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need the most aid, to achieve their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

After a year of planning, the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line opened its doors July 1, 2002. The club exceeded its initial goal of signing up 250 members during the first year in just the first six weeks of the club’s being open, and it has continued to grow ever since. To date, nearly 4,000 youths have been members of the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line.

Brurud, who recently celebrated his 20th year with the Boys & Girls Club, said he is happy that the club has been able to meet the growing needs of Havre’s youth.

“We’ve forged some great relationships with youth over the past 20 years,” he said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see former club kids grow up and become parents, educators and community leaders. We have a lot to celebrate.”