We are excited to announce the inaugural Betsy’s Bash, a celebration and fundraising event at the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Center on May 21, 2022, from 4:00 – 8:00 pm. This very first gathering of Penn’s Pals will be a celebration of the legacy and impact the center has had on countless generations of youth, staff, and families since Mrs. Betsy first opened the doors in 1964. Her vision of a camp focused solely on the health, wellbeing, and education of the youth of North Carolina has carried the center from 1964 to the present, ensuring the positive and transformative impact of the camp experience on thousands of children.

We hope this celebration will become a pillar of the Rockingham County community for years to come, demonstrating the deep impacts of the Penns’ dream to make a difference in the lives of North Carolinians, one child at a time. Serving over 7,000 youth every year, the Penn 4-H Center stands as one of the leading youth development centers in the state of North Carolina.

We now ask you to consider joining with Penn’s Pals to support the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Center (BJP) by becoming a sponsor of the inaugural Betsy’s Bash Fundraising Event, and/or by joining us in person for the celebration on May 21, 2022. The event will be held outside. A virtual option will also be provided if you are unable to attend in person, or feel more comfortable celebrating remotely.

Through the generous support of a Rockingham County community member and parent of a youth who has attended BJP, all sponsorships, ticket sales, and donations for this event will be matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000. “The BJP camp is a very important part of the greater Rockingham County community. I hope this gift will help motivate others to show their appreciation and support for this beautiful camp facility. Let’s all show our gratitude to Betsy and Jeff Penn and their vision for positive youth development in Rockingham County and the state of North Carolina.” The donor providing the match challenge wishes to remain anonymous at this time.

We appreciate any support you can provide during the fundraising event as we strive to make a difference in the lives of young people.

For more information, contact Center Director Stacy Burns at stacy_burns@ncsu.edu or 336-349-9445. You can also follow our Facebook event page for all the up-to-date details. We appreciate your support and look forward to celebrating with you soon.