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Sue Reed Receives Thomas Garth Character and Courage Award Presented at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's 101st National Conference




Sue Reed, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast, was the recipient of the Thomas G. Garth Character and Courage Award at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's 101st Annual National Conference in Orlando, Florida on May 16-19, 2007.

The Thomas G. Garth Character and Courage Award is presented to an individual who best exemplifies the qualities that made Tom Garth an extraordinary leader and role model. This inspiring honor is the highest award Boys & Girls Clubs of America can bestow on a Club professional. Sue is the eleventh person to ever receive this award.

Sue has been with Boys & Girls Clubs for 23 years, eight of which have been with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast. She has served as executive director for five years and her leadership has been exemplary especially after Katrina.

Thomas Garth was instrumental in numerous improvements including reorganization of the National Field Service, the transition from Boys Clubs to Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the relocation of the National Headquarters to Atlanta. The Thomas G. Garth Leadership Fund was established in his name to perpetuate excellence among Club Professionals. Tom also oversaw a dramatic increase in the number of girls served while increasing awareness of Boys & Girls Clubs across the country.

Tom made a lifelong commitment to help young people develop their fullest potential in a career that spanned more than 40 years. Tom began his career with the Movement in 1957 as program director at the Boys & Girls Club of St. Louis, Missouri, and was promptly promoted to assistant director. Two years later he became executive director at the Boys Club of East St. Louis, IL. In 1966 he joined the National Staff of Boys & Girls Clubs of America as assistant regional director of the Midwest. In 1975 he was appointed director of national field services; six years later he was promoted to assistant national director and moved to associate national director in 1985. He was named national director in 1988 and president in 1993.

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Tough Course Is Talk of the Tournament
From The Sun Herald, May 8, 2007
By JIM MASHEK




HARRISON COUNTY --Gov. Haley Barbour knew a good cause when he saw it.

A good golfer, however, was hard to find in Barbour's quintet in the second annual Governor's Cup on Monday at Fallen Oak. The tournament raised roughly $2.75 million for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast, and Barbour made the quick trip from Jackson to lend a hand.

"It's a wonderful course and everyone was very gracious here," Barbour said after finishing his round. "We all had a lot of fun even though it's a pretty tough track. The important thing is it raised money for the Boys and Girls Clubs, and everyone had a good time.

"I suspect more people will want to contribute to a cause like this."

Barbour was teamed with Jackson attorney Reuben Anderson, a former member of the Mississippi Supreme Court, along with Anthony Topazi of Mississippi Power, Duncan McKenzie and Sun Herald Publisher Ricky Mathews.

Anderson delivered some impressive shots off the tee, while Mathews endured a popup to the shortstop on one par-3 hole. Mathews, however, closed his round with a chip-in from the fringe, and the banter between the group was lively over the entire back nine.

"We're gettin' tired," Barbour said on the 18th fairway.

Of the deep bunkers? The fast greens? The game itself?

"Each other," he quipped.

Fallen Oak, however, was the popular subject of the day.

"I don't know if I've ever played a golf course quite like this," Anderson said. "It's very tough. I've walked Augusta and gone to The Masters, but never got to play there. Believe it or not, the governor carried our team."

Barbour showed some skills near the green and used some breaks in play to catch up on government business. Tom Fazio, the golf architect at Fallen Oaks, helped organize the event and said he put up $1 million of his own money to help launch the project last year.

"After Katrina, and what happened to the Boys and Girls Clubs on the Coast, this was a logical place to hold this event," Fazio said.

Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway was on the winning team, along with Jim McArcher, Carolyn Shanks, Grandville Smith and Gray Swoope.

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Poker Tournament to Benefit Boys & Girls Clubs

Join Captain Windy Swetman in “Poker Night” to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast D’Iberville Unit on May 12th 2007 at the D’Iberville Sports Complex Recreation Building. $60.00 per player includes delicious homemade specialties provided by the D’Iberville Club members' parents, soft drinks, and beer, and of course, poker. The doors open at 5:30 and play begins at 6:30. The tournament will be limited to no more than 60 players. Prizes will be provided for the top eight places and include hotel stays with dinner at local casino's, limousine and dinner packages, and also assorted gift certificates such as free oil changes, car washes, etc.

“Last year’s tournament was the first and very successful . . . let’s get everyone out and have a good time and make this one even more successful,” said Captain Swetman, event chairman.

Please contact Captain Windy Swetman if you’re interested in playing or need more information.

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Boys & Girls Club Kids Have Idol Eyes
From The Sun Herald, April 13, 2007



A group of teens from the Pass Christian unit of the Gulf Coast Boys & Girls Club took a field trip earlier this week - all the way to Hollywood, for a rare behind-the-scenes peek at "American Idol."

Nine club members - Bobby Pruitt, Jasmine Bradley, Aesha Bradley, Kiki Dedeaux, Jordan Lizana, Lizzy Cook, Monae Howard, Eric Hammond, and Arthur Alex Lewis - received the trip as a surprise thank-you from the Malaria No More Foundation.

Last year the youngsters raised more than $1000 to fight malaria in Africa, and the foundation was so moved by their efforts they did a little networking and got the kids a VIP trip to Los Angeles.

After flying to Los Angeles, the group piled into a stretch Lincoln Navigator and headed to the set. There, they got up-close and personal backstage with all the contestants, as well as judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson.

They spotted the evening's special guest, Jennifer Lopez, and bumped into Mike Tyson, actress Lori Loughlin, and even Heather Mills, who was on her way to the nearby "Dancing with the Stars" set. Peer educators Britney Williamson, Rachel Deo Camp, and Swathie Iyengar also accompanied the group to film the trip for a documentary video.

After meeting the contestants firsthand, and seeing everyone performing in person, whom do the teens think will be the next American Idol? The consensus among the kids - 17-year-old Jordin Sparks.

"They were all real good, but Jordin was the best," said Dedeaux.

When asked who was the nicest person they met in Hollywood, the group simultaneously proclaimed "Simon!"

Simon Cowell? Yep.

"He was really, really nice," said Lizana. "Randy was cool, but Simon was real nice to us."

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"Malaria No More" Walk for Kids

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast Pass Christian Unit paid tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by sponsoring a "Malaria No More" Walk for Kids to raise funds to purchase inexpensive bed netting for children of Africa. The Pass Club raised $950.00 and sent the money to Boys & Girls Clubs of America for distribution. The two-mile walk began Monday, January 15th, Martin Luther King day, at 8 a.m. at the Pass Christian War Memorial Park on Fleitas Avenue.

When asked why the clubs scheduled the Malaria Walk on Martin Luther King day, Jackie McGee, Pass Christian Club Director said, "I wanted the kids to experience having the initiative to help someone else . . . it was a holiday for us and I wanted it to be a 'day on' on our 'day off' . . . to feel compassion for others. It was a walk for kids, all kids."

Each year, more than one million young people die from malaria, 75% of them are African children, and more than 300 million people worldwide will fall ill from this preventable and treatable disease. The Pass Christian Club worked with Malaria No More, an advocacy group whose mission is to inspire, engage and motivate individuals, organizations and institutions to protect families from malaria. At a cost of just $10, one bed net can protect an entire family for three to five years. The netting is covered with an insecticide that creates a protective barrier against mosquitoes at night, when the vast majority of transmissions occur.

Malaria Walk for Kids

Malaria Walk for Kids

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First Lady Visits Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast

Sue Reed with Laura BushOur First Lady Laura Bush visited our D’Iberville Unit on February 22nd to listen and learn how the Boys & Girls Club is addressing the needs of children along the Gulf Coast since Katrina. She was not a casual observer but someone who took the time to visit both our board and school leaders and many of the children who attend the Club.

I was personally impressed with her down to earth approach to people and her genuine caring for the children she spoke to. She sent a special note of one of the children who not only survived Katrina, but recently lost her mother to cancer.

Dana Trochessett, the Principal at D’Iberville Elementary, and I also had the privilege of attending a small luncheon of educators invited to discuss with Mrs. Bush some of the challenges we all still face in rebuilding schools and providing a positive educational experience to children, many of whom still reside in FEMA trailers or are moving from place to place.

Dana and I will say the highlight of our day was being invited by Mrs. Bush to travel with her from the restaurant to the school in her vehicle in the motorcade. It was a time when three women could discuss our children, and in my case grandchildren, and how she looked forward to that day when she would be a grandmother. She was interested in how we personally faired in the storm and expressed her gratitude to both of us for being there for children on the coast during such a difficult time. We of course thanked her for continuing to care about how we are progressing and how our children are coping.

Sue Reed, Executive Director

Laura Bush visits BGCGC

Laura Bush visits BGCGC

Laura Bush visits BGCGC

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