The Bjorkman’s Are Super Heroes!

The Santa Clarita Magazine had the pleasure of sitting down with Co-Chairs Ann-Marie and Mike Bjorkman to chat about the upcoming Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley Annual Benefit Auction on June 1st.

You’ve been chairing the Boys & Girls Club Auction for five years now.  What keeps you coming back?  It must be a ton of work to put on such a large event.
Ann-Marie:  It is!  We plan year-round but by January we really kick it up.  The Club staff and I meet with businesses and donors year-round talking about how the Boys & Girls Club is making a difference in kids’ lives.  It’s a lot of work but I just love the work we’re doing at the Club.  I am at the Club a lot.  I’ve gotten to know a lot of the kids.  I wish I could just take some of them home.  Mine are grown now.  Andy is 22.  Max is a junior in high school.  It’s so important that we give kids hope and opportunity, so they don’t go down the wrong path.  I’ve been involved long enough that I see the difference the Club makes in kids’ lives.  It keeps me going knowing that everything we raise at the Auction stays right here in Santa Clarita helping our kids and teens.
Mike:  I am a Boys & Girls Club Alumni. When I was a kid at Emblem, I went to the Club after school.  If it wasn’t for the Club I probably would’ve ended up in trouble.  The staff at the Club care so much about the kids.  They taught me to be a gentleman and a lot of the soft skills I use today.  In my work you have to know how to talk to people and be confident.  The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita taught me that.

Tell us about this year’s theme.  How did you choose it?
Ann-Marie:  This year we really wanted a fun theme.  People have loved all our themes, but it was time for us to choose one that people could just really get dressed up for.  Superheroes is such a great theme.  It’s so popular now.  Everyone is talking about which superhero they are going to come dressed as.  We might even have a few villains in the crowd.  We think everyone who supports the Boys & Girls Club is a superhero too, so it just fits.
Do you have a favorite superhero?
Ann-Marie:  Aqua man!
Mike:  Captain Marvel

How can people purchase tickets or sponsor the Auction?
Mike:  It’s really easy.  Go to www.scvbgc.org/auction and all the details are on the website.  You can call the Boys & Girls Club directly too at 661-254-2582 ext. 103.  We sold out early last year so don’t wait until the last-minute people!

How can someone make an item donation?
Ann-Marie: Anyone interested in donating can email me at ann@santaclaritarealestate.com or call me at 661-212-8074. We want to have all our items collected by May 15.  Tickets to concerts and sporting events are always a hit.  Gift cards, small items, large items, we can use them all.  We combine small items into gift baskets.

Anything you’d like to close with?
Ann-Marie: This is such a fun event, raising money for a great cause.  You do not want to miss out.  We have dinner, silent auction items, live auction items.  We hope to see everyone on June 1 at the Hyatt!