For the second year in a row, what started off as just an idea back in 2020 in the mind of Jackie Robinson Boys and Girls Club Director Stephen Francis, launched into another month-wide success throughoutFebruary. 

Once again, African American community leaders Teresa Gee-Hardy, Cynthia Cotton-Jones, Pat Mitchell, Stephen Francis, Shaunta Dismuke, Latrena Perry, Annette Higdon, Constance Brimm-Robinson, Fergus Robinson, Cynthia Hall, Marquita Rogers, Larry Black, Torenda Connell, Erikka Edwards and new addition, Varonika Hardman, spear-headed the month-long challenge to raise money for the local club. 

The speech was simple: “With all the things happening in the world right now, we as an African American community are driven to uphold our portion of the responsibilities of our local Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club in order to assure its continued success with our children. The committee asked for a contributing gift of $100 from supporters throughout Black History Month with all proceeds benefiting our Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club,” Francis said.

“I appreciate the dedicated committee that we have assembled. They each care dearly for our children and it shows during times like this. When people like this come together, good things happen – they feel happier, more connected, more resilient, and can make changes and improvements where we live” Francis went on to say. 

The JRBGC expressed its appreciation to everyone who contributed in completing another successful challenge during Black History Month and offered a special thanks to friends Teresa Edwards, Otis Redding III, Colleen Millsaps-MTF, Karla Heath-Sands, Tim James (Thomasville Ford-Lincoln), Michelle Mitchell, Linda Drew-Johnson, and the many others abroad who met this challenge.  

Boys & Girls Clubs of America is tax-exempt and “partially” funded by the federal government. Each local club is responsible for raising its own operating budget where members pay a small fee as well as receive monetary gifts from individuals.

For more information about the JRBGC, go to www.mnw-bgc.org or visit the Facebook page (Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club of Cairo/Grady Co.)