Boys & Girls Club of Nampa hopes car detailing event leads to boost in pocket

It was a festive and informative day at the Boys & Girls Club of Nampa on Monday.

It was also a day that the club believes will pay off in the immediate future.

There, 13-year-old Middleton resident Steve Thompson showed off his skills as the world’s youngest certified car detailer. Thompson, also known as “The Detail Kid” according to his website , taught youngsters at the Boys & Girls Club how to detail a car, working specifically on a 1969 Pontiac Firebird that the club will raffle off this summer.

According to Melissa Gentry, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Nampa, Thompson and over 200 local kids in attendance detailed the car — working specifically on buffing and vacuuming the vehicle.

She said it was the perfect lead-up to the club’s Denim and Diamonds Gala on Friday, where it began selling the raffle tickets for what Gentry says will be a significant fundraising opportunity.

“It was an amazing day for our kids,” she said. “Not only were they able to learn a skill, they’re able to help us get our raffle car ready.”

Tickets will go on sale throughout the community on Monday at Boys & Girls Club locations in Canyon County; Les Schwab Tire Center and Crash Champions Collision Repair locations in Nampa and Caldwell; and Larry’s Chevron in Nampa.

There will be 2,000 tickets available at $100 apiece, and the raffle will be held Aug. 23 at TimberStone Golf Course in Caldwell.

Gentry said this year’s raffle is of extra importance with Nampa School District moving to four-day class weeks. She said because of that and the expected influx of kids it will bring to the club, the Boys & Girls Club of Nampa will need to fundraise an additional $180,000 this year to account for increased food and staffing costs.

She added that the club does not want to financially burden parents who are already sending their children to the club. With that as a backdrop, she pointed out that if all 2,000 raffle tickets are sold, it will bring in $200,000.

“We’re hoping this is our first year selling out those tickets,” she said.

“Someone can support kids and maybe win a car.”