Basketball great Lenny Wilkens speaks at Steak and Burger Dinner
By Chauntel Powell
ALBANY — For more than 50 years, the Boys and Girls Club of Albany has helped to shape the character and future of the kids that walked through its doors, many of them becoming leaders in the community.
That commitment was honored Thursday night when the organization conducted its 29th Annual Steak and Burger Dinner at Darton State College’s Cavalier Arena to recognize and honor a few of those leaders.
Packing into the area were young members of the Boys and Girls Club as well as donors and supporters who showed up, in part, to hear comments from guest speaker Lenny Wilkens. Wilkens is a Hall of Fame basketball player and coach, most notably with the Atlanta Hawks.
Three-time Hall of Famer Wilkens was in attendance to introduce the inaugural Boys and Girls Club Alumni Hall of Fame recipients for their service and contributions to the community.
“They’re tomorrow’s doctors, lawyers, politicians, athletes,” Wilkens said. “They’re our future. So anything that we can do to encourage them, to make a difference, to help them believe that can achieve, I think it’s so important.”
In that first class were the late Jane and Harry Wilson, longtime supporter Larry Price and bothers Andrew, Jason and Steven Belk. All were honored with a video tribute where loved ones described their impact on the community.
Much to his surprise, chief executive officer Marvin B. Laster was also inducted into the Hall of Fame. In a video tribute to Laster, board president Patsy Martin commended Laster for embodying “the true spirit of the Boys and Girls Club” and being the epitome of a leader.
After the Heritage Club inductions, three-time Paralympics participant and gold medalist April Holmes took to the stage to introduce 2016 Youth of the Year Finalists Keimon Jefferson, Ayanna Phelps and Anquarius Brown
Jefferson, a student at Monroe High, was named Youth of the Year and awarded a $500 scholarship, which he plans to use at either Morehouse or Mercer University.
Before closing remarks by Laster, the Boys and Girls Chorus performed for the crowd. In his written message to the crowd, Laster described the event as “the greatest testimony of our impact. It’s a historic celebration of the difference that we make, together, in the lives of the kids who need us most.”
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