April 5, 2017

To our generous sponsors, donors, board, staff, parents and friends,

Following yesterday’s Great Futures Luncheon, I’ve been sitting at my computer all morning trying to figure out how to write to properly thank you, our Club family. It’s hard to put into words how grateful we are for what happened at the Columbia Puckett’s yesterday afternoon. For the third year in a row, our Great Futures Luncheon was a sold out event. Over 300 of you packed into Puckett’s to celebrate our amazing Club kids and their stories of transformation.

As James Bennett wrote on the front page of the Columbia Daily Herald this morning, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when our kids talked about the incredible challenges they have overcome…from bullying to abandonment to the threat of being homeless.

Even though we had practiced for the weeks and days leading up to the event, all of our staff were overcome with emotion too, as we hugged our brave kids and wiped away their tears. But the thing I will remember most about yesterday is being overwhelmed by the gratitude I felt as I looked out at all of your supportive faces. YOU are the reason these stories of transformation exist. There is no Boys & Girls Club without all of you and your support. I’m convinced Maury County is one of the most generous communities in our country.

THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, for giving this Club to our kids. Thank you for allowing all of us on the staff to get up every day and go to a job that doesn’t feel like work.

Whether you write a check or volunteer in homework help every week, this is YOUR Club too. These are your kids…and these are ALL our community’s kids. It is a privilege and an honor to serve this community, and your kids, every day.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Robyn Peery, CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Maury County

P.S. Visit our YouTube channel here to watch our 2017 Maury County Youth of the Year Jessica Harrison share how the Club has influenced her life. Check out pictures and video of the event here courtesy of Ross Jaynes and Quantagus Mcfall.

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