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A good deal of acknowledgement is paid to YMCAs, JCCs and parks and recreation facilities for contributing to the overall wellness of their local communities.

They get a lot of press for offering affordable rates and — in limited cases — providing scholarships if local residents can document financial hardship. On the flip side, commercial clubs have garnered no obvious respect for being a contributor to such communities — except for paying real estate taxes to support the local municipality.

Why is this? Many commercial clubs are, in fact, “donation machines,” yet they never seek credit, nor do they benefit from the overdue public relations stories they deserve.

Some of the ways in which clubs have made contributions to communities include donating raffle prizes to local charities; endorsing charity events in their newsletters, on posters and promotional materials; and offering free use of their facilities to plan or even house a fundraising event.

Often these actions are supplemented by cash contributions from the club, its members, vendors and staff.