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Nonprofit Insider
Eleven Outstanding Leaders Inducted Into BGCA’s Alumni Hall of Fame |
San Francisco, May 7, 2008 – According to a Harris Interactive survey,
57 percent of Boys & Girls Club alumni said, “The Club saved my
life.” The 2008 inductees into Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s
prestigious national Alumni Hall of Fame, including a Nashua native,
Air Force hero and strong supporter of Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes,
Craig Fitzgerald, prove that the Club is indeed a “positive place.”
Fitzgerald joined the Boys Club of Nashua in 1985, taking part in
sports and leadership programs. He enlisted in the Air Force after high
school in 1995, serving first as a survival training instructor, then
as a para-rescuer. In 2003, he was leading a rescue reconnaissance
mission in Afghanistan when insurgents attacked. Severely wounded,
Craig underwent 11 surgeries and was medically retired in 2004. Wanting
to give back to other injured veterans, he and a friend hiked the
2,200-mile Appalachian Trail in just four months in 2006, raising more
than $150,000 for the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes. His wife
is now serving in Iraq.
"When you have an injury, you have a lot of time to reflect on your
life. I can say, without a doubt, the Boys & Girls Club tops the
list of those who shaped my values and beliefs. In my eyes, I had a
dream team [for Club staff]. I am honored and proud to call them my
friends. I owe a great debt of gratitude to them." |
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| Air Force hero and founder of the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, Craig Fitzgerald (right), was recently inducted into the prestigious Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) Alumni Hall of Fame. 2005 inductee, Courtney B. Vance of Law & Order, emceed the event and presented the awards during a special ceremony at BGCA’s 102nd Annual National Conference in San Francisco. |
This year’s
slate of 11 inductees honored during Boys & Girls Clubs of
America’s 102nd Annual National Conference reads like a Who’s Who in
America with a big city mayor, sports superstars, military heroes, an
award-winning architect and an advertising guru. The common
denominator they all share – the positive influence of a Boys &
Girls Club and their respective contributions to society as adult
professionals.
Fitzgerald’s fellow 2008 inductees include:
Executive VP and COO of McCann Worldgroup, Joe Burton; NFL Super Bowl
official, Mike Carey; Rear Adm. Earl Gay; MLB superstar Dan Haren;
outstanding architect and founder of Holland Basham Architects, Timothy
Holland; NFL Hall of Famer and former U.S. Congressman, Steve Largent;
founder of two successful orthopedic companies, Greg Nelson; the
Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles; NBA Slam Dunk
Champion Spud Webb; and Dr. Dayna Wiedenkeller, president of the
Southern California Veterinary Medical Association. Boys & Girls
Clubs of America (“BGCA”) also welcomed back 2005 Hall of Fame inductee
and award-winning actor, Courtney B. Vance, to host this year’s
ceremony.
“We are extremely proud of our alumni who have gone
on to achieve great things,” said Roxanne Spillett, president and CEO
of BGCA. “Their stories are very different, but all start out the same
– with life-changing programs, caring and attentive staff, and the fun
and safety of a local Boys & Girls Club.”
The Harris survey
also revealed that 81 percent of alumni said Club participation helped
them develop a sense of responsibility to give back to their community,
and an impressive 92 percent said that helping others is still a
priority for them. The 2008 alumni inductees represent a wide range of
professions and have a genuine dedication to continue giving back to
their communities, both professionally and personally.
“This
year’s class of inductees represents the power and impact a Club has
not only on character and development, but also on civic engagement,”
continued Spillett. “The 2008 inductees, as well as the other Alumni
Hall of Fame members, are living proof that Boys & Girls Clubs
impact young lives every day.”
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org)
has been changing and saving young lives, providing hope and
opportunity for kids who need them most. Today, 4,300 Clubs serve 4.8
million young people through Club membership and community outreach.
Known as The Positive Place for Kids, Boys & Girls Clubs can be
found all across the country and on U.S. military bases throughout the
world. Clubs provide young people 6-18 years old with
guidance-oriented character development programs conducted by trained,
professional staff. In communities large and small, Clubs positively
impact lives and help young people reach their full potential as
productive, caring citizens. The Greater Nashua Club (www.bgcn.com)
has been serving youth since 1971 and now has 4,200 members. Key Boys
& Girls Club programs emphasize leadership development; education
and career exploration; community service; financial literacy; health
and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and family
outreach. National headquarters are located in Atlanta and the local
Club is at 47 Grand Avenue. |
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