Brat fry raises $20,000 for Boys & Girls Club of Maui

By Patrick Lynn

It was “Aloha Friday” at Festival Foods on Sept. 8, as the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County rallied the community around a brat fry to raise $20,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui.

The brat fry generated over $5,000 in hot dog, hamburger, and brat sales, with several large orders from area businesses. Another $5,000 came in via private donations.

Sentry Insurance Foundation matched proceeds dollar-for-dollar, resulting in a total contribution of $20,000 and reaching the milestone. Proceeds will assist with relief and recovery efforts of the Boys & Girls Club in Maui, Hawaii.

Mikayla Kleifgen, director of resource development and marketing for the local Club, said the organization lost one of its locations in the town of Lāhainā to the devastating wildfires that killed at least 115 people. At least 388 others are considered missing, as of Aug. 31.

The Boys & Girls Club of Portage County has become close with the Boys & Girls Club of Maui through Sentry’s Connected Communities Initiative, Kleifgen said.