Rochester Boys & Girls Club Celebrates Successful Fundraiser

Annual 'A Chair Affair' gala raises critical funds for youth programs

Apr. 4, 2026 at 11:04pm

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The Boys & Girls Club of Rochester hosted its annual 'A Chair Affair' fundraiser in February, which was one of the most successful in the organization's 26-year history. The black-tie gala featured a circus theme with live entertainment, a silent auction, and a 'Bids for Kids' auction that generated significant donations to support the club's youth programs, meals, and mentoring services.

Why it matters

The Boys & Girls Club plays a vital role in providing after-school activities, meals, and mentorship to hundreds of Rochester youth, with the goal of expanding to serve thousands more. The community's strong support for the fundraiser demonstrates its commitment to investing in the next generation and ensuring all kids have access to enriching programs.

The details

The 'A Chair Affair' gala featured a circus theme with a juggler on a unicycle, a magician, and a fortune-telling vending machine. The silent auction included around 75 items, and the 'Bids for Kids' auction at the end of the night was one of the club's top three best fundraising events ever, though the exact figures were not released. The funds raised will help the club continue providing programs, meals, and mentoring to its 300 daily members, with the goal of expanding to serve the 7,000 Rochester-area kids in need of these services.

  • The Boys & Girls Club of Rochester hosted its annual 'A Chair Affair' fundraiser in February 2026.
  • The gala has been an annual event for the club for the past 26 years.

The players

Chad Campbell

The CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester, who praised the community's support and attendance at this year's successful fundraiser event.

Wayman Docks

A member of the Boys & Girls Club since 2024, who said he loves playing in the pool and gym at the club's East Center Street location and appreciates the community support that provides the club with resources for its members.

Aamilah Halbert

An 11-year-old member of the Boys & Girls Club since 2019, who looks forward to seeing her friends at the club and is grateful for the community support that allows the club to provide equipment, fix things, and serve meals to its members.

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What they’re saying

“The attendance was great. It was so wonderful to see everyone from around town come together, and it was really successful in terms of bringing in a little money to help fund our programs for another year.”

— Chad Campbell, CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Rochester

“It feels really good that we can actually have a bunch of stuff to play with [because of the donations].”

— Wayman Docks, Boys & Girls Club member

“We could get more equipment and fix stuff that needs to be fixed, and [the donations] help make food for everybody so everybody can eat.”

— Aamilah Halbert, Boys & Girls Club member

What’s next

With the successful fundraiser behind them, the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester is now focused on stabilizing the organization's operations and expanding its reach to serve more of the 7,000 Rochester-area kids in need of its programs.

The takeaway

The strong community support for the Boys & Girls Club's annual fundraiser demonstrates Rochester's commitment to investing in the next generation and ensuring all local youth have access to enriching after-school activities, meals, and mentorship. The club's goal of expanding its services to reach thousands more kids in need is an ambitious but worthy endeavor that will require continued community engagement and donations.