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(Photo credit: 5Digital)
Boys & Girls Clubs of America recently inducted seven new club alumni into their Alumni Hall of Fame during the youth advocacy organization’s virtual 115th Annual Conference.
The ceremony honored seven Boys & Girls Club alumni who have made major contributions in their fields, including sports, government, and music.
This year’s inductees, the “Class of 2021,” include: Tara August, vice president of Turner Sports Talent Relations and Special Projects; Ciara, Grammy-winning recording artist; The Hon. Jerry Demings, Mayor of Orange County; Frank Layden, former NBA and WNBA coach and executive; Ricardo Lockette, retired NFL special teams player and wide receiver; Titus O’Neil, WWE Superstar, and Alex Rodriguez, entrepreneur, philanthropist and MLB All Star.
The honorees have forged unique, successful paths as adults, but a shared Boys & Girls Club foundation of education, support and community brought to them through invaluable programs, attentive staff, and the connections made with other club youth.
Boys & Girls Club celebrates the achievements of alumni each year with the annual induction ceremony.
“We are proud to recognize another group of outstanding club alumni for this 2021 class.
Each one provides true inspiration for our Boys & Girls Club youth, making it clear that they can accomplish their dreams,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “With shared beginnings at Boys & Girls Club, inductees exemplify what we aim to accomplish for our youth. Given community and encouragement to grow, and opportunities to succeed, they can go on to make their mark in the world.”
The Boys & Girls Club Alumni & Friends estimates there are more than 16 million living Club alumni today, with each individual being an important piece of our story and mission.
Among the honorees was Alex Rodriguez, an alumnus of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade. Before Alex Rodriguez became a baseball star, he learned to play the game at the Hank Kline Boys & Girls Club in Miami.
Alex was 9 when met unit director and baseball coach Eddie Rodriguez. Though not related, Eddie was like a father to Alex. By high school, Alex was a brilliant baseball player who led his team to the state championship. He stayed a club member until 1993, when the Seattle Mariners made him the No. 1 pick in the Major League Baseball Draft.
Alex went on to be one of the most famous players in baseball history. Over a 22-year career, he was named AL MVP three times, hit nearly 700 home runs and became a world champion.
He now is a television baseball analyst for Fox Sports and ESPN, and a board member for Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade and also for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
For 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours.
Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles. More than 4,700 Clubs serve 4.6 million young people through club membership and community outreach.
Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.
For more information on Boys & Girls Clubs Alumni & Friends or to join the community go to www.bgca.org/alumni.
