Speakers inspire crowd during annual Boys & Girls Club dinner
Athletes, volunteer of the year recognized during event
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

L-N Photo by Chris Barbee They're Winners Red Wave swimmers Guy Stovall IV and Kari Wilkins took home Texas Amateur Athletic Federation male and female Athlete of the Year plaques. They were congratulated here by former Rice University football coach Ken Hatfield, one of the guest speakers at Thursday night's Snag, Tag and Brag fund-raiser for the Boys & Girls Club of El Campo, held at the El Campo Civic Center.

The Boys & Girls Club of El Campo's fall fund-raiser Thursday night was a big success, drawing a crowd that enjoyed good food, good company and giving back.

The "Snag, Tag and Brag" event, held at the El Campo Civic Center, featured a seafood dinner as well as athletic awards, a live auction and stirring speakers.

Long-time club friends Betty Ann Franke and Alan Hoelscher were honored during the fundraiser, first during a speech by local Club head Mike Perry. In praising both volunteers, Perry noted Franke "understood the need to nurture children," and said Hoelscher "cared about the kids and cared for the community."

Strong Young Woman Brittny Cantero of Wharton spoke to the crowd Thursday night about becoming a national Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year finalist, after enduring a horrific upbringing. She was one of two guest speakers at the B&G's annual Snag, Tag and Brag banquet fundraiser. Cantero said the caring staff and volunteers at the Wharton Boys & Girls Club saved her, and taught her anything was possible in life. L-N Photo by Brenda Sommer

"They had one thing in common," Perry said. "They made a lasting impression on the youth of this community."

Family members of both, who are now deceased, were present when Perry announced rooms were being named for each at the Boys & Girls Club to honor their memories.

The high points of the evening were speeches by National B&G Youth of the Year Finalist Brittny Cantero of Wharton and former Rice University football coach Ken Hatfield.

Cantero spoke of the horrendous living situation she had to overcome to become the young woman she is today: a pre-med freshman at Texas A&M University. She said she learned through the caring staff and volunteers at the Wharton Boys & Girls Club that she could do anything she put her mind to, and encouraged the crowd to continue their support for the worthy organization.

Hatfield used a number of funny stories from his various football experiences at A&M, the University of Arkansas and the Air Force Academy to emphasize to the crowd that "team comes first."

"You saw the power that's released when you're part of a team, when you put the team first," he said. "You put the Boys & Girls Club and Brittny first."

Three of the club's most prest igious awards were presented during the event.

Red Wave swimmers Guy Stovall IV and Kari Wilkins took home Texas Amateur Athletic Federation male and female Athlete of the Year plaques.

Olga Garcia was named Volunteer of the Year for her service over the years to the program.

Club volunteer Bernice Rek was the happy winner of a raffle for a pair of Southwest Airlines tickets to any mainland destination.

The Boys & Girls Club of El Campo serves more than 1,100 children ages 6 through 18 after school and during the summer. Members have access to supervised sports, games, computer use, arts and crafts and other programs that help to enrich their lives, teach them leadership skills and build their self-esteem.

Last year the fall fund-raiser brought in an estimated $20,000 for the club, but figures for Thursday's event were not available at presstime. It takes around $170,000 per year to run the organization, which has been a part of the community for the past 16 years.