Century Club Makes $5,000 Contribution to Coronavirus Relief Fund

Dear Century Club members,

I hope this note finds you well and in good spirits. I wanted to keep you all informed about a recent move by your Board of Directors. As some of you may have heard, the Mayor’s office has set up, in conjunction with the Long Beach Community Foundation, a Relief Fund that will give grants to local organizations who are on the front lines of the efforts to keep our city safe and to provide a safety net for those who are struggling during this crisis. Last night, your BOD voted to make a contribution to that fund.
Please see the letter below that will accompany our contribution. Thank you to John Fylpaa for bringing the idea to the Board, and to all of you who have paid your membership fees, bought raffle tickets, or given to the Club in any other way. You are helping us support our community in these trying times.

“Mayor Robert Garcia and the Long Beach Community Foundation,As president of the Long Beach Century Club, and on behalf of our Board of Directors and our membership, I am honored to present this $5,000 contribution to the Long Beach Coronavirus Relief Fund. It is our hope that these funds will help to alleviate the pain of this crisis on our neighbors both in the short term and as we deal with a longer recovery effort.These are strange times in our city and our broader community here and around the world. As you know, the mission of our Club is to support youth and amateur athletics in the city of the Long Beach. As I write this note, the playing fields are empty and the schoolyards are locked. Rather than the noisy bustle at Blair Field, the roaring crowds at track meets, or the controlled chaos of the Grand Prix, we are greeting spring with a quiet uncertainty. How does the Century Club fulfill our mission when there are no sports to promote? It is very clear to our Board that, in times like these, we can best support our youth and amateur athletes by supporting the organizations that will keep them healthy, provide their families with relief, and shepherd us through this crisis in one piece. We are grateful to the Mayor’s office and the Long Beach Community Foundation for their leadership in working quickly to set up this Fund. Some day soon, we know we will be celebrating together again in packed stadiums and gymnasiums across the city. Until then, our belief in the championship spirit of our city, on and off the courts, remains strong. Stay well!

I’ll be missing you all tomorrow and looking forward to seeing you soon.

Best,
Shar Higa

President, Long Beach Century Club