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Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga Recognize Members for Outstanding Leadership & Service through their Annual Fundraiser

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga held their annual fundraiser, the “Steak ‘N’ Burger Dinner” at the Chattanoogan Hotel on Thursday, May 22. This 28-year tradition is a valuable part of a continuing effort to recognize older members for their positive contributions to younger members of the club as well as the community.

The dinner is also an opportunity for community support of the Clubs’ programs, both morally and financially. Over the past 27 years, numerous relationships between Club Leadership Members and the mentors attending have developed, and over a million dollars has been raised to help provide positive programs. Steak ‘N’ Burger dinner has had many exciting and inspirational speakers over the years. And this year was no different; as the Club welcomed Lieutenant General Russel L. Honoré as the keynote speaker.

Honoré served as 33rd commanding general of the U.S. First Army at Fort Gillem, Georgia. He is best known for serving as commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, which was responsible for coordinating military relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina-affected areas across the Gulf Coast. He retired on March 1, 2008, following 37 years of active service with the United States Army, and now continues to speak and consult nationally on Building a Culture of Preparedness. This year he challenged the members to find their purpose was, he applauded their adaptablilty and patience, and reminded them to "Do the routine things well...and do what's right, even it's the harder thing to do."

This year, the Boys & Girls Clubs also inducted two new members into their Keystone Society, which aims to recognize those who have gone above and beyond in their support of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga with their time, talents, and generous treasures. This year, the Society was honored to welcome inductees R.B. Davenport, III and Ronald O. Osborne, who were not only valuable leaders of the Clubs’ Staff and Executive Board for more than 10 years, but each also played a significant role in integrating the Club in 1968, securing funds for the Central City Unit in 1970, and the acquisition of Camp Kiwanis in 1972, which gave inner-city youth the opportunity to experience the outdoor environment. Without the involvement of these caring individuals, the landscape of the Boys & Girls Clubs

of Chattanooga would look very different today.

With the help of these individuals and countless others, the Boys &

Girls Clubs of Chattanooga continue to provide exceptional services to over 3000 children at 4 different sites across Chattanooga. Thanks to financial contributions through the Steak ‘N’ Burger dinner, the Club is able to offer children opportunities that supplement education, teach strength of character, teach how to make positive choices, and lead children down the path of creating a better future. Due in part to the success of this year’s event, the inner city youth of Chattanooga will continue to have a safe, educational, and enjoyable place to grow and enhance their minds and futures.

BGCC President, Michael Cranford, Receives National Recognition: Thomas G. Garth Character & Courage Award

During the second week of May, Boys & Girls Clubs executives and professionals from around the nation met for the 102nd Annual National Conference in San Francisco. Friday night at the closing dinner, Mr. Cranford was presented the most prestigious award a BGC professional staff person can receive, the Tom G. Garth Character and Courage Award. It was presented in front of some 3000 BGC friends and colleagues.  This award is given to a top professional for demonstrating the qualities of character and courage.  The Thomas G. Garth Character and Courage Award was created in memory of the former BGCA president and is presented each year to a club professional, who best exemplifies the qualities and character that made Mr. Garth an extraordinary leader and role model during his decades of service to the organization.

Those present were delighted and honored to be with a person that is so well thought of and admired throughout the profession. We congratulate Mr. Cranford for this most prestigious honor. Seen here is a picture of him and the BGCA President, Roxanne Spillett.

United Way funds local programs that strengthen families, improve community health, and assure readiness for school and work. The following story is just an example of ways that United Way gifts are working in our community to improve lives:

Roderick Adams was a young boy age six living in the Harriet Tubman Development. He is the youngest child from a single Mother. He could not wait to start the Boys & Girls Club, a United Way-funded agency, located in that area.

Young Roderick went almost every day and participated in the various programs offered. He enjoyed the recreation and sports programs, but really liked the educational programs. Roderick had a desire for learning. As a teenager he was a participant of the Boys & Girls College Bound Program. Upon graduation from high school, his dream was to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta. After hard work and assistance from the Boys & Girls Club (emotionally, physically, socially and financially) Roderick's dream became a reality. He has now graduated from Morehouse with good grades, received his Masters Degree from Vanderbilt University. Roderick was offered a job teaching at a prestigious private school, but graciously declined and has since returned to Chattanooga to teach.

He is now teaching at Howard High School in Chattanooga, where he says he can be more influential to young teens coming from similar circumstances as he did. Roderick is an extraordinary young man and he continues to come to his Boys & Girls Club regularly to give back.