Speaking up for youth center

So when the Braintree couple heard that the nonprofit Braintree Community Youth Center, a Pond Street facility that gives young people a place to gather, was in danger of closing due to lack of funds, they created an event.

“A Cookout in January to Save the Youth Center’’ is scheduled for Jan. 28 from 6 to 11 p.m. at Emerald Hall, 120 Bay State Drive, Braintree. The goal is to raise at least $41,000 to keep the center open next year.

“They’ve run out of funding and were going to close at the end of this year,’’ Tom Weitbrecht said. “When my wife and I heard about that, we decided to step in and help.’’

He said part of what he and his wife do is fund-raising for nonprofit groups; Janice Weitbrecht has done “Make a Difference Day’’ events in Braintree, and is a former copresident of the Braintree PTO and is on the Thayer Public Library’s board of trustees.

“Our son has reached the age where he can go to the youth center and has gone,’’ Tom Weitbrecht said. “Then we met the executive director there, and in talking about the center, realized how dire the situation was there.’’

He said the community support resulting from the anticipated closing has been “tremendous.’’ He said Mayor Joseph C. Sullivan signed donation-request letters to the Boston Bruins and Celtics, resulting in a pair of Bruins tickets with a Zamboni ride, and an autographed Paul Pierce basketball, among the items to be auctioned off. Others include an electric fireplace from a local hardware store, an iPod and a pair of tickets to a Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees game.

The event includes food, a cash bar, the auction, and entertainment by DJ Ray Productions. Tickets are $25, available by calling 781-228-5361 or e-mailing info@braintreeyouthcenter.org. The center’s website is www.braintreeyouthcenter.org.

The youth center, created in 2007, is open to Braintree youths in grades 6 through 12 who want to hang out, play pool or ping pong, listen to music, and generally “stay out of trouble’’ on Friday and Saturday nights, Weitbrecht said. Membership costs $10 a year.

To make a donation, which will be accepted until the night of the event, contact the Weitbrechts at 508-726-6437. All proceeds benefit the youth center, which recently also partnered with One Life at a Time in Rockland, a nonprofit agency that offers free career services to those new or returning to the job market.

“One good thing that’s come out of this is a lot of people in Braintree who weren’t aware of the youth center are now,’’ he said. “The danger of it closing has really shined a spotlight on it and the good work they do there.’’

CROWN FOR MOLLY: Middleborough resident Molly Whalen last month won the Miss Taunton 2011 pageant, which is a preliminary event in the Miss America Organization.

As Miss Taunton, Whalen was awarded a $2,500 scholarship. The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy student is studying to become a dental hygienist.

BUSINESS BRIEFS: Conor Flanagan has been named a senior tax accountant at Braintree-based Kirkland Albrecht & Frederickson LLC. Flanagan, a resident of South Boston, will be responsible for tax preparation and associated research and planning for corporate and individual clients.

The Easton Chamber of Commerce is holding its seventh annual Business Appreciation Night on Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. at the Easton Country Club. The event will feature the presentation of this year’s Outstanding Business Citizen Award. The guest speaker will be Plymouth comedienne Mary Ellen Rinaldi, who will present “Life Lessons Through Laughter.’’ For information, call 508-238-2225 or email kerri@easton-chamber.com. The deadline to reserve tickets is Jan. 20.

Liz McCarron of Norwell, a realtor with Coldwell Banker, was named to a new term on the board of trustees of the nonprofit James Library and Center for the Arts in Norwell.

Thomas M. Burke (inset at right) of Hanover has joined the South Shore Saving Bank’s investment center as an Infinex Financial Group representative at the bank’s Quincy branch. He has more than 10 years of experience in financial planning and wealth management, most recently as a financial consultant with Eastern Bank.

Paul Escobar of Milton was named senior vice president of the wealth management division at Bay Colony Partners in Woburn, an independent retirement planning firm.

Carolyn Wilson of Abington and Lauren Rogers of Weymouth were named to the accounting staff at Needel, Welch & Stone PC in Hingham.

Paul E. Kandarian can be reached at kandarian@ globe.com.