Hometown Heroes event features James, surprises
The Bryant Boys & Girls Clubs held its Hometown Heroes appreciation lunch at the Hill Barn Event Center in Bryant on Friday featuring Bryant Head Football Coach Buck James.
Shane Broadway, a big supporter of the Clubs and community, and Christina Munoz, were the events emcees.
“If you are a board member, coach or volunteer, you make a big influence in a kid’s life,” James said.
James himself was a member of what was then know as the Boys Club starting in 1969 in Pine Bluff.
He spoke about the impact the coaches and volunteers had on his life and his memories of them. They had a big influence on his life and love of athletics.
He remembered children would ride their bikes or walk to the club when he was a child and spending the entire day there.
James said it is important not only to invest in the children who seem like they might be successful, such as in sports, but to pour into every child and help them develop.
“It has go to be about all the kids,” James said.
He said the Clubs helps fill the
gap that may be left by not having a parent in a child’s life.
He mentioned 212, the idea of giving just a little bit more than it takes to get the job done.
“We have got to empower our kids for them to be successful,” James said, adding adults need to have relationships with the children in the community and not give up on them.
He said the programs take money and commitment to support the children.
He added the Boys & Girls Clubs is important.
Munoz said the Clubs has more than 40 programs and teaches life skills to its members. The teachers and coaches really care about the members.
Jersey Mikes in Bryant presented the clubs with the proceeds from its recent day of giving where it provided all sales from the day to the Bryant Boys & Girls Clubs and Saline County Boys & Girls Clubs.
The Clubs surprised Broadway and his wife, Debbie, by honoring them for all the couple has done for the Clubs since it began in 2004. The conference room in the Clubs is being named the Shane and Debbie Broadway Leadership Room.
Debbie Broadway spoke about the importance of keeping the Clubs going.
“We can all do this together,” she said.
Shane Broadway said that while they were not blessed with children of their own, they see the children of Saline County as their adopted children. When he first ran for senator, one of his goals was to open a Boys & Girls Club in Bryant because he wanted Bryant children to get the same benefits Benton children did without having to go so far.
The Clubs honored its Hometown Heroes. Volunteer of the Year went to R.J. Hawk. The other Hometown Heroes were Travis and Brittany Wood, Ken and Maryanne Green, Arvest Bank led by Phillip Partain, Chris Walker with Fence Brokers, Entergy Arkansas and Dale Dues.
The Clubs had a surprise singer perform at the end of the luncheon. Chris Treat, director of the Bryant Parks Department, sang a song he wrote about the Clubs.
The meal was catered by Gina’s Catering.
The sponsors for the lunch were Landers Toyota, Big Red Stores and the Arkansas Heart Hospital Encore Medical Center.