The "Dining with the Stars" event in Bethesda Thursday night boasted several local sports greats with former Washington Redskins Charles Mann as master of ceremonies and Art Monk and Gary Clark notable attendees. But the real stars of the night were the young members of the Boys and Girls Clubs, according to Mark Avallone, the volunteer board president of the Maryland region.

Avallone indicated that private pledges of financial support were made among the 300 attendees, and that corporate support was bolstered as well. Harvest Bank, which had already pledged funds towards the construction of the gym, gave an additional $10,000 on Thursday. As the vote for funding from the state draws nearer, Avallone feels optimistic.

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