More children will now be able to attend the Florence De George Boys & Girls Club in West Palm Beach, Fla. thanks to a new school bus. The 72 seat Blue Bird bus will be used to pick up Club members after school to take them directly to the Club and to allow for more field trips. Due to the lack of transportation options, the Florence De George Club had to limit how many children could be picked up at nearby schools. The bus was made possible with a $25,000 seed grant from the Bill Bartholomay Family Foundation. Since the bus was critical for allowing more children to attend the Club, the bus was purchased but an additional $80,000 still must be raised.

“I’m so proud to be able to help the Club. It is the least that we can do because the kids deserve the best,” said Taylor Schneider, Florence De George Boys & Girls Club Board Member and granddaughter of Bill Bartholomay. “My grandfather recently passed away, but he would have been so proud of what this bus will do for the Club.”

The Florence De George Boys & Girls Club Board is currently planning a fundraising event to cover the rest of the cost of the bus. The members have been working for years to be able to get a new bus to be able to allow more children to take advantage of the programs at the Club.

“The Club currently has a waiting list. This bus means we will be able to help even more children. We are so excited for this new bus,” said Elizabeth Debrule.

“The kids deserve it. Sometimes the smaller things such as air conditioning on a bus means everything. By providing such things, it’s one more way to make sure our Club members realize that they are important to us. These things truly matter,” said Board Member Greg Latimore.

If you would like to donate to the new bus fund, please click on the button below.