Dear Editor:
On behalf of the Board, Staff and children at the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Louisiana, we would like to thank our community for supporting and participating in the 9th annual Holiday Basketball Camp, Sponsored by Origin Bank. Two hundred and twenty children—a record — received a digital photo with Justin Holiday, the former NBA Champion, as well as a camp T-shirt and personal interaction with Justin.
Parents had an opportunity to hear from Justin’s parents, Shawn and Toya Holiday, on their parenting of three NBA players (middle son Jrue won his second NBA championship with the Boston Celtics last year and Aaron, who is currently a Houston Rocket).
In addition to Origin Bank being our title sponsor, the Club wishes to thank Louisiana Tech for allowing us to host the camp in the Lambright Intermural Center again this year and Wrldnvsn for providing tshirts.
Many thanks to Temple Baptist Church for providing lunch, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Ruston Police Department for cooking and serving the food and Smoothie King for providing a cool snack.
There are many highlights to our annual fundraiser. Other than the children’s experience, the support from the community was humbling. Even Justin and Shekinah Holiday give funds to their own camp!
Please see our thank you ad for those sponsors that have allowed us to publish their names.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to Boys and Girls Club staffers Sabrina Love and Jeff Miller who put together another great camp program that kept the kids involved and allowed Justin the freedom to interact personally with each camper.
We set another record for fundraising with this event. The Club raised over $179,000 for after school and summer care and instruction, summer feeding programs (over 30,000 meals) and overall mentoring to those in our community that need it most. This brings the total fundraising for the Holiday Basketball camp to over ONE MILLION ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS over these nine years! Personally, I am most appreciative of my classmates of RHS Class of 1981 that sponsored campers.
The Club has many events for our children, and we would love for the public to attend one or more of these functions. These functions are what really shows the impact the contributions have on these young citizens. Please give Janet Wilson a call at the Boys & Girls Club, and we will be happy to give you a tour!
Finally, please let me add a sincere thanks to the City of Ruston and Mayor Walker for their unwavering support for the Club. The City currently provides the facility for the Club to carry out our mission. We look forward to a bigger camp next year and an even bigger impact on our community.
Lucius McGehee, Jr.
Holiday Basketball Camp Event Chair
