SALINA, Kan. — A powerful family legacy is helping bring a long-held dream to life for Salina’s youth.
To honor the memory and values of their late parents, Ted and Almita Augustine, the Augustine Family has established a $500,000 matching gift challenge through their Donor Advised Fund at the Greater Salina Community Foundation. Their investment supports both the launch and long-term sustainability of a Boys & Girls Club in Salina—an effort years in the making.
“This matching gift challenge is a game-changer,” said Lance Patterson, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson. “It helps us meet the immediate needs to open our doors, while also building the foundation to serve kids for generations to come. It’s an incredible tribute to a family that truly valued education and community impact.”
Through the challenge, every dollar donated to the endowed Boys & Girls Club of Salina Fund will be matched with an equal dollar toward operations—allowing the community to build the Club’s future while also powering programs and staffing needed to open by the end of 2025.
“Our families are excited to support the start of a Salina-based Boys & Girls Club,” said Donna Augustine-Shaw and Mark Augustine. “The plan is strong, the partnerships are in place, and the need in our community is real. This initiative connects our parents’ belief in education with a powerful, lasting opportunity for Salina youth. The start-up plan is solid and has great potential for growth, including a commitment to build a new facility in the Sunset Park area. We are honored to be part of something that will serve this community for generations.”
The Boys & Girls Club of Salina is a vision championed by retired educator Millie Moye, who has worked with a dedicated advisory board, the Greater Salina Community Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson to bring the Club to life.
“This has been a dream in my heart for over 20 years,” said Moye. “The Augustine family’s support is lightening the table, so that all children have a spot at the table. That is so profound.” She also added that “This is exactly what I hoped and prayed for… regardless of where kids come from or have been they have a seat at the table. We will never run out of seats at the table, the Augustines have allowed us to build a bigger table”.
Time Is Critical: Double Your Impact by December 31
To qualify for the match, gifts must be made to the “Boys & Girls Club of Salina Fund (endowed)” by December 31, 2025 through the Greater Salina Community Foundation. Donors can give online at gscf.org, by check (memo: Boys & Girls Club), or by calling (785) 823-1800 to explore options like IRA distributions, gifts of stock, grain, or other non-cash assets.
Every $1 invested in a Boys & Girls Club generates $10.32 in economic benefits—but this is a one-time opportunity. If the $500,000 match is not fully met, those additional operational dollars will not be unlocked.
“The Salina of tomorrow will be shaped by how we invest in our kids today,” said Patterson. “This is our moment, and we can’t let it pass us by.”
The Club is expected to open by the end of 2025 at Oakdale Elementary, offering afterschool and summer programs focused on academic success, leadership, well-being, and career readiness.
About the Boys & Girls Club:
The Boys & Girls Club is a national organization committed to providing a safe and supportive environment where young people can reach their full potential. Programs focus on academic achievement, character and leadership, health and wellness, and workforce readiness.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Salina is to enable all young people—especially those who need us most—to become caring, productive, and responsible citizens.
