In The News
BGC Bethalto Dinner Auction Recap
Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto held its 25th annual Help Kids Dinner Auction at Julia’s Banquet Center in East Alton. This is the organization’s largest fundraising event that supports the mission and provides much-needed programming year-round for members. The Disco Fever themed event was a huge success with over 150 attendees and raising $41,000! Highlights of the evening included the ever-popular dessert auction, designer purse raffle, treasure chest auction and traditional silent and live auctions with great gifts and experiences from a room makeover to Cardinal Green Seats.
Special thanks to the Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto Community Board, Beverage Sponsor: First Mid Bank & Trust, Food Sponsor: Laux Brick House, Treasure Chest Sponsor: Anderson Healthcare, Purse Raffle Sponsor: Galanti & Patti Law Office, P.C., Dessert Raffle Sponsor: Geno’s 140 Club and Major Ad Sponsor: Edward Jones- Ken Harmon. To view pictures from the event, click here.
Great Futures Moments E-News 3rd Q
Great Futures Moments E-News 4th Q
Lailah Green Wins 2022 Youth of the Year
YOUTH OF THE YEAR WINNER ANNOUNCED
AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST. LOUIS GREAT FUTURES GALA
Lailah Green Wins Youth of the Year, $5,000 in Scholarships & A NEW CAR
Over 330 guests and $700,000 raised for Club kids and teens!
St. Louis, MO, October 22, 2021 – Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is proud to announce the 2022 Youth of the Year winner is O’Fallon Park Club member Lailah Green! Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive and a signature national youth recognition program that celebrates the recipient’s contributions to their family, school, community, and their Boys & Girls Club. The winner was announced at the Jerseys & Jewels themed, drive in tailgate style Great Futures Gala, the largest fundraising event for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, which raised $700,000 for Club kids and teens!
Lailah, age 15, is a sophomore at Metro Academic and Classical High School and has been a member of BGCSTL O’Fallon Park Club for eight years. In addition to winning the Youth of the Year title and honor to represent the Club as a Teen Ambassador, she received the Michael & Wanda DeHaven $5,000 Scholarship, a celebratory dinner courtesy of the Saint Louis Club and a car provided by Frank Leta Honda! Lailah plans to pursue higher education with hopes of one day becoming a Congresswoman when she graduates high school. She credits the supportive Club staff with helping her find light at the end of the tunnel and multiple programs for giving her an opportunity to turn around her behavior and lend a hand when she needed it most. She says the Club has, “helped her love herself, gain confidence, gain leadership skills and make long lasting friendships.”
“The Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire. All of the honorees are shining examples and living proof that great futures start at the Boys & Girls Clubs. We are so proud of all of this year’s participants who took the time to complete a challenging yet worthwhile process. All possess the ability and ambition to be successful, and should be recognized for their leadership, service, academic achievements and commitment to live a healthy lifestyle,” said Dr. Flint Fowler, President, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis.
Another special moment in the evening was Mr. Martin Mathews, co-founder of the Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club, being honored with the Capture the Vision Award which is presented to an individual or organization who demonstrates their devoted service to the Club through tireless innovation. Dr. Flint Fowler presented Mathews with the award and said, “Mr. Mathews is being recognized with the Capture the Vision Award for a life of service dedicated to the well-being of children. Thousands of our citizens have better lives because of the role he has played in their development.”
2nd Place winner receiving a $2,500 scholarship is Herbert Hoover Club member, Nikell Smith
3rd Place winner receiving a $1,000 Scholarship is Hazelwood East High member, Hannah Wallace
4th Place winner receiving a $500 Scholarship is Be Great Graduate Normandy High School member Da’Nija Jones
Special thanks to Emcee KSDK Rene Knott, the Great Futures Gala committee including, Honorary Co-Chairs Dr. Donald M. Suggs and Keith Williamson and 2021 Co-Chairs Leah & Chris Harris, Nancy & Jim Wolfe, Catherine & John Stupp III and Kathryn & Jim Sansone. We are also grateful to the following sponsors for their support: Premier Sponsor, Centene Charitable Foundation, Lead Sponsor Emerson, and Presenting Sponsors Ameren, Dowd Bennett and Nancy and Jim Wolfe.
To view more pictures from the evening, click here.
For more information on how the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis is helping our community, visit www.bgcstl.org.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. For over 150 years, BGCSTL has been providing after-school, teen, sports and summer programs to youth in the St. Louis area while also providing a safe place for them to learn and grow. The Clubs serve youth across the region at twelve locations, including (Adams Park Club, Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto, Boys & Girls Club of Lovejoy, Hazelwood Elementary School Club, Herbert Hoover Club, Mathews-Dickey Club, Normandy High School, O’Fallon Park Club, Riverview Gardens Club, Roosevelt High School, Hazelwood Southeast Middle School Club and the Teen Center of Excellence). We also operate Mentor St. Louis and the St. Louis Internship Program.
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Great Futures Gala 2021
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis
Annual Great Futures Gala Outdoor Tailgate Style
Park & Party with a Purpose
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) will hold its annual Great Futures Gala on Wednesday, October 20 on the upper Muny Lot in Forest Park, tailgate and outdoor movie style.
Last year the event was outdoors for the first time due to covid precautions and it was such a success that we returned for year two! The outdoor gala will include all of the favorite elements of our past Galas, but under the stars. We’re transforming the upper Muny lot in Forest Park to a Jerseys & Jewels themed tailgate gala that will consist of a center stage with large outdoor movie screens, an emcee, music, entertainment and dinner. Guests will be able to enjoy the gala from the privacy and comfort of their cars allowing for more distancing in a safer social environment.
The “Great Futures Gala” is the largest fundraiser benefitting youth at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis and showcases the youth who embody the ideals of the Club’s mission to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens! Club teens and Youth of the Year candidates will share their stories of how the Club has impacted their lives throughout the evening followed by the selection of the 2022 Youth of the Year! Click here for ticket and sponsorship information.
Thanks to our Premier Sponsors, Centene Charitable Foundation & Dowd Bennett.
Honorary Co-Chairs: Dr. Donald M. Suggs and Keith Williamson
Event Co-chairs:
Leah & Chris Harris
Nancy & Jim Wolfe
John Stupp III & Catherine Toben
Kathryn & Jim Sansone
If you’ll be missing the celebration, we invite you to volunteer, donate, mentor or register your youth for membership, or for ticket information, visit www.bgcstl.org.
Calendar Format:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis
Great Futures Gala
Theme: Jerseys & Jewels
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
5 pm
Muny Lot, Forest Park
www.bgcstl.org
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. BGCSTL provides after-school, teen, sports and summer programs to youth across the Bi-State Region while also providing a safe place for them to learn and grow. The Clubs serve youth across the region at twelve locations, including (Adams Park Club, Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto, Boys & Girls Club of Lovejoy, Hazelwood Elementary School Club, Herbert Hoover Club, Mathews-Dickey Club, Normandy High School, O’Fallon Park Club, Riverview Gardens Club, Roosevelt High School, Hazelwood Southeast Middle School Club and the Teen Center of Excellence). We also operate Mentor St. Louis and the St. Louis Internship Program.
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Recognition Event Honorees & Alumni Hall of Honor 2021
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis Honors
Alumni, Board Members, Community Partners & Staff
at Annual Recognition Event
ST. LOUIS (August 13, 2021) – The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is proud to announce the 2021 Annual Recognition event honorees and Alumni Hall of Honor inductees! Each year the staff, board members, volunteers and supporters are acknowledged and celebrated for their commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs as well as the kids and teens that we serve.
The 2021 BGCSTL Alumni Hall of Honor inductees are Brandon Bosley, Paris Thompson, Sharita Davis, Steve Vasser, Gerald Fulton, Marsha Walls and Kayla Jackson-Williams. The Hall of Honor recognizes outstanding alumni for achievements in their respective fields, commitment to leadership, serving our community’s youth, contributions to the St. Louis community and for living out the mission of the Boys & Girls Club. Additional categories and honorees for the evening were as follows (award descriptions below):
L to R Dr. Flint Fowler (President, BGCSTL), Sharita Davis, Marsha Walls, Kayla Jackson-Williams, Rev. Steve Vasser, Paris Thompson, accepting on behalf of Gerald “Hitman Holla” Fulton, Jr. (his parents) and Dr. Graylon Johnson (presenter and former Boys & Girls Clubs alumni) – not shown Alderman Brandon Bosley
Richard H. Amberg Award Recipient – Nancy Wolfe (Presented to a Board member whose leadership and commitment has a profound impact on the Club’s ability to achieve its mission.)
National Award of Merit (Individuals and organizations outside Boys & Girls Clubs that have provided outstanding support to local Clubs or the Movement.)
Gail Ruhling, St. Louis Cardinals
Rene Knott, News Channel 5
PGA REACH, Ali Wells
Riverview Gardens School District, Dr. Scott Spurgeon
Kuhn Foundation, Thom Kuhn
Dowd Bennett, LLC, Ed Dowd
Annette Valiant
Deborah Wilkins Reese
Service to Youth Award – Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis Staff
(Board, volunteers and staff who have rendered long and devoted service (five years or more) to the Boys & Girls Club Movement.)
Five years:
Anthony Buckner
Chrishawn Buford
Sharon Harkness
Leandra Haynes
Cornelious Ingram
Nicole Johnson
Patrick McKinney
Stephanie Prechard
John Redden Jr.
Pareece Sanders
Antonia Wilford
Byron Witherspoon
Christian Williams
Ten years:
Aubrey Betts
Candice Borders
Carlos Stanford
Rayna Sullivan
Charlotte Thomas-Reed
Delah Jones
Twenty years: Tylinisha Howard and Nasrin Shadman-Atkins.
Twenty-five years: Dr. Flint Fowler and Reginald Jones.
Service to Youth Award – Board and Life Trustees (Board, volunteers and staff who have rendered long and devoted service (five years or more) to the Boys & Girls Club Movement.)
John Farmer – 5 years
Dave Queller – 5 years
William “Bill” White – 5 years
Robert “Bob” Fulstone – 30 years
Joan Silber – 30 years
Cabinet of Life Trustees – (An honorific title, bestowed on an individual Director who has retired from the Board of Directors having completed their terms and who are deemed worthy of such designation by virtue of their extraordinary past performance and contributions to the Club.)
Barbara Bartley-Turkington
Keith Lueking
BGCSTL President, Dr. Flint Fowler (reflecting on the annual event which has always been close to his heart) said, “This event gives us the opportunity to celebrate the many ways that our staff, board volunteers, alumni and friends contribute to the welfare of the children we serve and highlight our impact. While we recognize the challenges of COVID-19, we believe it is important to recognize the contributions and achievements of so many Club constituents.”
To view more photos from the event, click here.
Table for Four Recap 2021
Table for Four Guests
“Stepped up to the Plate” to Support Boys & Girls Club Youth
Teen Honored with Award for Volunteerism & Leadership
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis held its annual Table for Four event on the field at Busch Stadium this week! The luncheon, themed, Step up to the Plate, attracted nearly 350 guests and raised over $120k to support programs for girls at the Clubs. It was the first in person event of the year the organization has held (social distancing and masks were still in place).
Featured guests and speakers included 2021 Youth of the Year JaNiyah Banks, BGCSTL President Dr. Flint Fowler, KSDK Anchor & Reporter Michelle Li as emcee, Judy Armstrong (guest of honor), Carolyn Kindle Betz (Enterprise Holdings Foundation), Mayor Tishaura Jones, Karen Jordan (Dentons US LLP), Lauren Herring (Impact Group), Angellean Peters-Lewis (BJC) and Chonda Jordan Nwamu (Ameren Corporation).
During the event, Teen Center of Excellence member, D’Aura Tatum, was presented with the Joan Silber Volunteerism & Leadership award, which included a $1,000 scholarship. D’Aura is a 7th grader at Cross Keys Middle School and has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club since she was 7 years old. She spoke at the Teen Center of Excellence groundbreaking ceremony; was featured in the 2020 Census PSA encouraging families to complete the census; marched in the Peace Rally; and, performed with the nationally recognized step team at Lee Hamilton. She also enjoys performing in many of the theatrical plays as well as expanding her creative arts skills in videography and graphic design sessions at the Teen Center. Thanks to Club supporter Laura Herring, all four contestants plus the current Youth of the Year will each receive $500 scholarships!
Thanks to co-chairs LaVicki Hart, Jess Moore, Karen Morrison and Lynn Ann Vogel as well as the event committee and staff. Special mention to presenting sponsor Centene and Blue Door sponsors BJC, LaVicki Hart (The Hart Team, CBG), USBank, Lynn Ann & Paul Vogel and other companies and individuals who helped make the event a success! Proceeds support activities and experiences designed to help girls develop healthy lifestyles, positive self-esteem and make good decisions.
To view pictures from the event, click here.
News from BGCSTL 1st Q 2021
News 2nd Q
Great Futures Moments – News Updates from BGCSTL
2nd Q 2021, click here.
Jack Flaherty Donates Thousands of Books
St. Louis Cardinals Pitcher Jack Flaherty Donates Several Thousand Books to Boys & Girls Clubs Kids
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) kids and teens received a surprise delivery from African American owned local bookstore, EyeSeeMe, courtesy of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty!! In the boxes, thousands of books for the youth to encourage and continue to foster a love and passion for reading!
Jack was an avid reader growing up and chose a bunch of books that were some of his personal favorites as a kid such as the Magic Tree House series and Mike Lupica sports stories. Jack is passionate about supporting Black owned businesses and created this moment to do just that by purchasing the books from EyeSeeMe, while directly giving back to the local community by donating them to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis.
BGCSTL has been a charity of choice for Jack for a few years now donating everything from masks to keep kids and staff safe during the pandemic, to the most recent gift of $5,000 through his partnership with BodyArmor. The contribution will be used to support health and fitness programs at the Clubs.
“The city of St. Louis has embraced me from the beginning of my time as a professional baseball player. We couldn’t think of a better way to give directly back to the community by supporting a local, Black owned business with the EyeSeeMe Bookstore and simultaneously donating them all to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis. I hope these stories and adventures will inspire the next generation as reading held such an important part of my development. I am excited to work with both organizations in the future and it’s an honor to support them all today,” Jack Flaherty said of the partnership.
