Final preparations under way for Boys & Girls Club Steak & Stake Dinner

AMERICUS — The Boys and Girls Club of Americus-Sumter County is making final arrangements for its 18th annual Steak & Stake Banquet Fundraiser set for Tuesday at the Georgia Southwestern State University Student Success Center.

“Things are going really good this year,” said Club President Shirley Green-Reese.

Club officials said the event will include a 5:30 p.m. silent auction, a dinner at 6 p.m. and a program immediately following. Appearances by Wintley Phipps, a Trinidad native and founder/CEO of the U.S. Dream Academy, and former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter are part of the scheduled program.

A big draw to the program, Green-Reese said, has been Phipps and his vocal ability — which has been demonstrated in front of a number of distinguished audiences.

“People are really enthused about his singing,” she said. “There are many individuals looking forward to it.”

Items from various colleges and universities in the region are expected to be among those up for auction at the event.

Georgia Southwestern Interim President Charles Patterson, Americus Mayor Barry Blount, U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, former Boys and Girls Club members, Boys and Girls Club Director of Organizational Development Peter Fleischman, and Macon County Boys and Girls Club Advisory Board Chair Eric Finch are expected to make appearances, along with Bill Harris Sr. and Bill Harris Jr., founder of the Americus club and current board member for the club, respectively.

Club CEO Brittany Dawson is also contributing to the program along with Green-Reese, the Rev. Jerry Roe from Americus First United Methodist Church and 2016 “Americus Idol” Winner Valerie Bey. Bey is expected to contribute to the entertainment portion of the program.

Club officials have said its children are counting on the community’s presence — and sponsorship support — at the event in order for the organization to maintain operations.

Individual tickets are on sale for $75, and corporate sponsorship levels are available. Some of the current sponsors include Blount and the Americus City Council, Coca-Cola Company, Bill and Ann Harris Sr., Larry and Jane Comer, Parker’s Heating & Cooling, the Carters, Shiver Lumber Company, South Georgia Technical College, Citizens Bank of Americus, Randolph Barksdale, John and Sarah Bealing, and New Horizons Habitat for Humanity, to name a few.

Attention to the club is coming from outside of Americus, and even outside of Georgia, which has helped it generate financial support.

“Our sponsorships are getting better,” Green-Reese said.

Some of that support has been through connections with the former president and first lady, both of whom are honorary officers of the club’s board.

“We are celebrating 18 years,” Green-Reese said. “President Carter and Mrs. Carter have been with us those 18 years. We will also be celebrating them that night.

“It will be a joyous celebration.”

Tickets will be sold up until the day of the event, but they will not be sold at the door. The capacity is 425, and ticket sales were near that mark on Tuesday.

For more information or to request tickets, contact Green-Reese at (229) 938-3300 or Dawson at (229) 942-5114.