Boys & Girls Club of Americus-Sumter County serves as ‘light of hope’

AMERICUS — More than $30,000 was raised at the annual Steak and Stake Banquet fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of Americus-Sumter County on Tuesday.

The 18th annual event, held on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University, included a silent auction, dinner and a program immediately following. Wintley Phipps, a Trinidad native and founder of the U.S. Dream Academy, and former President Jimmy Carter were part of the program.

Carter was the guest speaker at the first event in 1999 and has since had the task of introducing the event’s speaker. Those individuals, in years past, have included singer Wes King, baseball player Hank Aaron, boxer Evander Holyfield, former Georgia Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, former football coach Vince Dooley, celebrity chef Paula Deen and former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch.

“Paula Deen is the most popular speaker we have had, except for the first one I mentioned,” the nation’s 39th president quipped.

Phipps is also well known for his singing voice, which he has lent to prison communities as well as dignitaries. For a donation of $20 or more to the club, attendees at the event were able to walk away with one of Phipps’ albums.

“The Boys & Girls Club in Americus is a light in this community,” he said. “When people complain (about) how difficult it is, this organization provides hope.

“It is a light of hope in this community — no doubt about it.”

Georgia Southwestern Interim President Charles Patterson, Americus Mayor Barry Blount, U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, former Boys & Girls Club members, and Macon County Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board Chair Eric Finch were among those to make appearances at the banquet, along with Bill Harris Sr. and Bill Harris Jr., founder of the Americus club and current board member for the club, respectively.

“This club has grown over the years,” said Bill Harris Sr. “Like any organization, it has had its ups and downs, but we are going strong. I’m real pleased with the support.”

Club CEO Brittany Dawson, who has been in her current position for a month, took part in the fundraiser along with Club Board President Shirley Green-Reese, the Rev. Jerry Roe from Americus First United Methodist Church, and 2016 “Americus Idol” Winner Valerie Bey.

Bey, a rising high school sophomore and Boys & Girls Club volunteer, contributed to the entertainment portion of the program along with local TV personality Karla Heath-Sands.

“(We are celebrating) 18 years, and we have had a long history,” Dawson said.

Blount and the Americus City Council, of which Green-Reese is a member, donated $10,000 to the club as an event sponsor.

“The future of this country is only as good as its youth,” the mayor, who grew up in Sumter County, said. “It is (essential) to make sure the youth have the same opportunity we had.”

Bishop, in his remarks at the dinner, noted that the club has the task of making sure the community’s youths understand the value of the choices they make.

“We must provide all the resources and tools necessary for (a child to reach their full potential),” the congressman said.

Jimmy Green, brother of Green-Reese and the club’s director of operations, received two awards. One was from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the other from the Americus-Sumter County club’s board of directors recognizing his 18 years of service.

The Carters were honored as Legends of the Boys & Girls Club of Americus-Sumter County. Amber DeBaise, Georgia Southwestern auxiliary services director, and Christie Umplbee, president of the Americus Junior Service League, were honored for giving assistance to the fundraiser as well as service to the club.

Trenisha Hallmon was recognized as Staff Member of the Year, as was Coca-Cola for its sponsorship support. The Youth of the Year and Club Member of the Year were acknowledged, along with the family of Chanel King, a 6-year-old member of the club who recently drowned on a family vacation.

The Boys & Girls Club of Americus-Sumter County has four units: the Bill Harris Sr. Unit, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Unit, Furlow Charter School Unit and the Macon County Unit.