MONTE VISTA — A new year, new location and new program brought a high level of energy and engagement to the Boys and Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley’s annual “Be Great Gala.” Over 100 people attended the event Saturday in Monte Vista at the Outcalt Event and Conference at SLV Ski Hi Complex.

Aaron Miltenberger, CEO of BGCSLV, thanked the crowd for attending and said, “this has been a year of trying new things for us.”

The Boys and Girls Clubs are now serving six communities across the SLV with eight locations. They have just opened the Hub, a non-profit Collaboration and Workforce Innovation Center in Alamosa and have plans to add other sites in the coming year.

“We have to do more to support the youth and families of the San Luis Valley,” Miltenberger said. “This past year there were several incidents of youth violence and most of those happened between 3 and 6 p.m. This is why we have to support the work of the Boys and Girls Clubs.”

There were plenty of auction items available from local stores and 10 experience packages ranging from guided fly-fishing trips and weekend excursions to Denver to a stay at the 4UR ranch or Wolf Creek. The event was supported by several corporate sponsors including SLV Federal Bank, RG Bank, First Southwest Bank, Alamosa State Bank, Husmann Plumbing and SLV Behavioral Health Group.

This year featured a Dancing with the SLV Stars competition featuring David and daughter Kai Tandberg, Mark and Lou-Anne Skinner, and Ralph Symbleme and Angela Meyer. The three couples were followed by a performance by Los Vecinos Bailadores. The 2023 SLV Mirror Ball trophy was awarded to the Skinners with second place going to the Tandbergs.

It is the single largest fundraising event for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley. The proceeds from this year total over $65,000 and will be used for the general operations of the growing clubs.

Miltenberger concluded, “without the support of this community and all of you we would not be able to serve as many young people, as often, with as much impact.” The clubs will focus their work in 2024 on prevention programs, workforce development, and behavioral health support.