BGCCC Alumni Association inducts new members, Sets 100-member goal by end of year

McKinney, Texas, July 18, 2007 - Every child loves a good story - for a good story sparks imagination and inspires children to dream beyond the boundaries and routines of everyday life. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County (BGCCC) is looking for past members from Clubs all across the country -- who now live or work in Collin County -- to share their inspirational stories with the BGCCC and its youth through becoming members of its first-ever Alumni Association.

"The Alumni Association wants to be able to show our youth how past club members have become successful people in the Collin County community today," Natalie Craver, Alumni Association committee chair and widow of inaugural member Lt. Johnny Craver, said. "The committee's goal is to enroll100 members by the end of the year."

Lt. Craver's story tells of a scrawny, young boy who learned confidence through kick boxing and karate classes once taught at the McKinney Club. He used this confidence to become an extraordinary man and commanding officer in the U.S. Army Rangers, who are among the most elite combat soldiers in the world.

Other alumni stories illustrate the importance of working together as a team and making good choices; these were lessons learned by alumni John Lowery and Perry Graham, respectively.

Lowery, now President of Wellstone Communities, Inc, a national property development corporation and developer of Cooper Life at Craig Ranch and Wellstone at Craig Ranch in McKinney, first became a member of the Boys and Girls Club in his hometown of Decatur, AL at the age of six. He continued his membership there until sixth grade when his family moved to Tennessee.

Lowery says he spent every Saturday during these six years at the West Decatur Club. There, he was first introduced to baseball, Chess Club and other team sports. Since team sports weren't a part of his school environment, he found himself really enjoying these and other fun, enriching programs which provided opportunities to make new friends and have a life outside of school.

As a result, the experience instilled a great sense of confidence allowing him to later become captain of his high school football team, president of his student body, and then wide receiver for the University of Memphis. Starting his property development career at the age of 22 with a personal loan of $20,000 from his father, Lowery is now a nationally recognized property developer whose companies will develop $7 billion in real estate over the next 7 years.

Lowery credits the Boys & Girls Club with providing a strong foundation for success during his early years and helping him become a productive member of the community in adulthood. Now Lowery is creating those same opportunities for young people in Collin County through generously supporting each of its five clubs.

Perry Graham, a retired insurance agency owner in McKinney, first joined the then Boys Club in Wichita Falls in the 1950s. He was just nine years old at the time and recalls how the staff's love and support helped him feel welcomed, needed, and like he actually belonged there; all feelings he had not experienced elsewhere. Graham also was intrigued by the large number of activities his Club provided him.

"The club helped me establish the importance of making smart choices; It let me see what I liked and didn't like to do," Graham said "Also, without the Club, I would not have been exposed to an organized, or structured, environment of any kind, which ultimately taught me accountability and responsibility."

Retired from the insurance agency he owned for 16 years, Graham now spends his time volunteering through various organizations in McKinney, including youth mentoring programs, international mission trips, and yes, the BGCCC.

"Success comes in so many ways," Cathy Barker, BGCCC director of development, said "By tracking down these stories of success through our Alumni Association, our goal is expose our kids to as many stories -and meanings- of 'success' as possible to show that they, too, can grow to become influential members of the community."

The Alumni Association already has several members since it began in March. However, it is still short of its goal of 100 members by year's end. Current members include Jeff Ferraro, operations manager for Texas Instruments, Clinton Hill, general manager of Hawaiian Falls Waterpark, Norman Leyton, special agent for US Secret Service, and Robin Rowe, recent Harvard graduate.

"Becoming a member is easy," Barker said. "There are no membership dues or anything like that. Our only goal is to document the impact our organization, as well as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, has had locally. And by communicating this success with our youth, create even more inspiring stories in the years to come."

Registered members will receive newsletters on Association & Club activities, feature stories on our website and newsletters on Alumni members, and exclusive invitations to Club events

For more information about joining the BGCCC Alumni Association, contact Angela toles at atoles@bgccc.org, or call the BGCCC administrative offices at 214-544-8924.

The BGCCC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization serving more than 3,800 disadvantaged youth at five branch locations in Frisco, Plano, and McKinney. The BGCCC enables all youth, especially those who needs us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

Perry Graham (middle) of McKinney recounts memories of growing up in the Witchita Falls, Tx Boys Club with Christina Alford, BGCCC chief executive officer (left), and Natalie Craver, Alumni Association committee chair (right), as he completes the application for the BGCCC Alumni Association. The association, who set a 100-member goal by end of the year, is looking for members of all ages that were once apart of a Boys and Girls Club anywhere across the county who now live or work in Collin County.