A LEGEND IN THE BUILDING: Georgia football legend Lindsay Scott addressed the crowd about building a foundation.

CAIRO — The Jackie Robinson Boys and Girls Club took over the Grady Cultural Center on Thursday night for their eleventh annual Diamond Affair. The night was filled with speeches from staff members and club members of the JRBGC and a legendary guest speaker.

The night began with several speakers who are board members and staff of the club like CEO Lee Wagner. Wagner addressed the crowd, telling them about the club’s plans to open up a new facility and use the current facility as a teen center.

“We are excited about our growth and want you to be a part of it,” Wagner said.

Executive Director Stephen Francis also spoke throughout the event. He started things off by addressing the “privilege” it is to be a part of the Jackie Robinson Boys and Girls Club.

“It’s such a privilege for the Lord to put you in a place to be used and that’s how I feel,” said Francis. “We all are just instruments of the Lord to be used for his purpose.”

Francis also welcomed to the stage Ja’Cameron Spence, who has been a member of the JRBGC since he was six. Now eighteen and a senior at Cairo High School, Spence has aspirations of working in law enforcement and spoke about how the club has helped him.

“Over the years the Jackie Robinson Boys and Girls Club has taught me to try my best at whatever I do and not to be ashamed of who I am,” Spence said. “Our smart moves program has taught me to make better decisions and smart moves during my teenage years. Many times in life we may make mistakes, but thanks to my parents, my grand parents and people that love me, coach Francis and the Jackie Robinson Boys and Girls Club I have all the support that I need.”

What many in attendance came for, aside from supporting the Jackie Robinson Boys and Girls Club, was to hear from former Georgia wide receiver and Bulldog legend Lindsay Scott. Scott is most famous for “the catch” in the classic Georgia Florida game in 1980. Scott went on to be the thirteenth pick in the 1982 NFL draft and played four season with the New Orleans Saints.

Scott’s message on Thursday night was about building a foundation for children to stand on. He referenced multiple Bible verses in his speech, specifically Mathew 7:24.

“I grew up in a community that said ‘Lindsay, you’ve got to put God first.’ You hear that and you say ‘wow, but how do I do that?’ Mathew 7:24 is one of my favorite verses and these are things I cut my teeth on,” Scott said. “It says this, ‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the floods came, the winds blew and beat on that house, but it didn’t fall because it was founded on a rock.’”

The night continued with an auction in which those in attendance had the opportunity to bid on several footballs signed by Scott as well as a jersey that displayed the commentary of “the catch” word for word. The night was a roaring success as those in attendance were treated to wonderful and impactful speeches, a delicious meal prepared by Cairo High School students, updated on the happenings of the Jackie Robinson Boys and Girls club and enjoyed a comedic auction.