Push to start Boys & Girls Clubs here

It may seem like a long, steep climb.

But those involved in a grassroots effort to bring the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to Yuba-Sutter will take a few critical steps in the coming weeks.

Tony Blackwell and Jason Gretsch, local residents who have taken up the cause, will rally the rest of their troops — a small cadre of community leaders — at the Tower Theater in Marysville this evening for an organizational meeting.

"Everybody accepts that the need is here," says Gretsch, who has pledged $10,000 of company funds from Alliant Networking Services — a local technology business he founded — and $1,000 of his personal money to the effort.

Gretsch estimates they will need about $350,000 in money and in-kind donations, to get a branch of the club started under the umbrella of Greater Sacramento Boys & Girls Clubs.

If successful, it would serve as a pilot program for other communities that have expressed interest to open clubs with the help of Sacramento's group.

At the moment, the group is eyeing Yuba City Fire Department's old Station 4 on Walton Avenue as a potential site.

"It's in an area heavily populated with children," says Gretsch. The location also would make it easy for students from several schools to attend the club's programs recreation and academic programs.

The old Station 4 was left vacant several months ago with the opening of a newer building on Ohleyer Road.

Asbestos removal and other remediation would be required first, and Blackwell is in discussions with city officials about a potential application.

The YMCA also is interested in using the site, Gretsch says.

His own first meeting with Sacramento Boys & Girls Clubs leaders last year was inspired by a profile of Actor Denzel Washington, which his wife Amber Gretsch encouraged him to read.

Washington, who grew up attending a Club in New York, is the organization's key spokesperson.

Gretsch and his wife have a young son of their own, and another on the way.

"We want them to have something growing up too," Gretsch said.

This evening's meeting at 6 p.m., he says, will be primarily a pep rally and discussion of how best to organize for maximum fund-raising efforts.

The group has a meeting with Sacramento officials in November, which Blackwell says, "is the big one."

Much of what advocates need to do now, says Gretsch, is to hit their neighbors and friends up for a pledge of support.

"We're literally going door to door with our hand out," he says."

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Nancy Pasternack at 749-4712 or at npasternack@appealdemocrat.com