PacificSource invests $50,000 in new La Pine Boys & Girls Club to expand youth programs
LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- PacificSource Community Solutions has invested $50,000 in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon to expand youth and family programming at the organization's new La Pine Club in South Deschutes County.
The La Pine Clubhouse opened this fall at the La Pine Community Center to provide consistent out-of-school programming. The funding will support program staffing, scholarships, healthy meals, snacks, transportation and family assistance services.
The La Pine Club currently serves elementary-aged students from La Pine Elementary School and Rosland Elementary School. Its core programming focuses on academic success, healthy lifestyles and character and leadership.
Transportation services are structured to ensure youth can attend the facility. Club staff members walk students from La Pine Elementary to the club, while a club van provides transportation for students from Rosland Elementary. The van is also used to transport youth to field trips, career exploration activities and health and wellness programs throughout Central Oregon.
Michael Baker serves as CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon. Baker emphasized that the funding helps remove financial and logistical obstacles for local families.
“It is always exciting to open a new club location,” Baker said. “PacificSource's investment is about so much more than just helping us open the doors in La Pine. Their support helps make sure any school age child in La Pine can actually get through those doors and have the support they need once they're here.”
Baker added that everyday challenges often prevent families from accessing out-of-school programs.
“For many of the families we serve, things like cost, transportation, access to food, or connecting with the right community resources can be significant barriers,” Baker said. “This partnership with PacificSource helps us address those barriers alongside them.”
The investment also funds the organization's Family Plus programming at the La Pine Club. The initiative provides social-emotional and behavioral support for youth, offering mentoring, small group sessions, trauma-informed care and wraparound services. These services connect families with community resources related to food security, housing, transportation and behavioral health.
Lindsay Atagi is the director of the Central Oregon Coordinated Care Organization, a division of PacificSource. Atagi noted that community environments play a critical role in overall health.
“We know health is shaped by much more than what happens in a doctor's office,” Atagi said. “It also depends on access to nutritious food, stable housing, supportive resources and safe places where children can learn and grow. We're proud to support the La Pine Boys & Girls Club and help expand these opportunities for families across South Deschutes County.”
