The Boys & Girls Club of Beaufort County is rising up with the help from some friends, both near and far.

The club was awarded a $45,217.60 check from Goodwill Community Foundation — a match for money the club has raised locally. Goodwill Community Foundation, in an effort to help the previously ailing organization, has promised to match up to $100,000 for money raised by the club this year.

The offer has spurred local giving, according to Misty Marston, Boys & Girls Club of Pitt County executive director. Last year, the Pitt County club threw a lifeline to its Beaufort County neighbor, resulting in an overall regionalization, and a local revitalization for the county’s two sites in Washington and Belhaven. Since, businesses and individuals have stepped up to offer support for the nonprofit that serves community children, offering summer programs and after school mentoring, tutoring to promote academic success, and guidance in many subjects, from building good character to healthy lifestyles.

Dennis McLain, president of Goodwill Community Foundation, was on hand Monday to present the check to the Boys & Girls Club of Beaufort County. He was joined by many others in the community who have donated time and/or money to the Beaufort County clubs’ cause. McLain stressed that it was not the first time that Goodwill has stepped in to help out an ailing Boys & Girls Club — the organization did the same in Kinston and Rocky Mount.

“We don’t have answers for Washington. We don’t have answers for Belhaven. The answers are here in this room,” McLain said, referring to the gathered stakeholders. “We are pleased we have been able to give you a leg up. But we are a partnership.”

And that partnership, McLain said, is to show the people of Beaufort County that Goodwill believes in the Boys & Girls Club, so they should too.

While the Beaufort County Boys & Girls Club struggled financially for many years, it was partnerships — between the Pitt and Beaufort county clubs, with Goodwill and other major donors — that has allowed its recovery, according to Pitt County Boys & Girls Club President H.L. “Steve” Stephenson III.

“It is a partnership and the largest and strongest partnership we’ve had is Goodwill,” Stephenson said, before adding that local partnerships are just as important in allowing the club to thrive.

For more information about the Boys & Girls Club of Beaufort County visit www.facebook.com/bgcbeaufortco or call 252-833-0600.