Holiday cheer is spreading across Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA). Community partners are pouring into our Clubs, and our Club members are pouring into our communities. Below are a few highlights of the season (be sure to check back for more)!
Santa’s Mobile Toy Shop at the Jesse Draper Club
Springbot, an Atlanta-based software company, adopted the Jesse Draper Boys & Girls Club this holiday season, donating and distributing more than 100 toys to members.
Bundled Up With Joy: The Embassy ATL Coat Giveaway
The Embassy ATL Church partnered with BGCMA for its inaugural coat giveaway, held Dec. 17 at the southwest Atlanta church. Spearheaded by Atlanta educator and philanthropist Dr. Darsha Brooks, the event gifted more than 100 brand new coats to members of the Michael A. Grant and A.W. “Tony” Matthews Boys & Girls Clubs. As Club members and their families arrived at the church, they were welcomed with beautiful Christmas decor, waves of Christmas music and excited members and volunteers. In addition to new coats, Club members also took home a goody bag filled with holiday treats.
Cherokee County Community Shows the Mimms Club Some Holiday Love
The Malon D. Mimms Boys & Girls Club has so much to be thankful for this holiday season. The Mimms Club partnered with Must Ministries to provide groceries to our families; the Target in Canton (store #2476) adopted two Mimms Club families; MiLend of Alpharetta donated 20 bicycles; The Cherokee Association of Realtors made a cash donation, and the members of the Marrietta-Roswell Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta donated over 50 pairs of skates and sports equipment. In addition, BGCMA Cherokee County board members volunteered to pass out presents.
Winter Festival Jingle Jam at the Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club of Henry County
On Dec. 17, the Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club of Henry County held its inaugural Winter Festival Jingle Jam for Club members and their families. The event featured holiday treats, music, food courtesy of Papa John’s Pizza, gift giveaways from Santa (who looked a lot like Executive Director Jesse Coltrane), and raffle prizes. Leading up to the festival, Torch Club members conducted a coat drive and held a raffle ticket fundraiser, raising $1000 for Torch Club programming. Urban Air Adventure Park in McDonough donated 10 tickets to the trampoline park, Connect McDonough donated 20 bikes, and Walmart donated five flatscreen TVs as well as gifts for Club members and any younger siblings of Club members.
CEO Santa Delivers Holiday Bags to the Kids at CNG
On Dec. 17, BGCMA CEO David Jernigan spent the afternoon dressed as Santa at our Center for a New Generation at Tuskegee Airman Global Academy Boys & Girls Club. Santa delivered gifts to the toy-shop-themed holiday party, and he also took photos with the kids. Executive Director Charlese (better known as “Ms. CeCe”), filled the gymnasium with cheerful, seasonal decor that brought joy to the room. Entertainment included a drumline performance, an African dance routine and live singing. Club members were having so much fun at their holiday party that some shed tears when their parents arrived for pick up.
Board Members Assemble Holiday Gift Bags for CNG, ‘Santa’ to Deliver
BGCMA Board members from the Resource Development-Marketing Committee gathered Dec. 13 to assemble holiday bags for 60 Club members at our CNG at Tuskegee Airman Global Academy Boys & Girls Club. Santa delivered the gift bags Dec. 17 at the Club’s annual holiday party (view recap above).
Michael A. Grant & James T. Anderson Clubs Receive Basketball Donations
The Michael A. Grant Club and the James T. Anderson Club received some exciting basketball donations. The Grant Club and four of Club members received basketball goals and basketballs from a partnership between the WNBA/NBA and Walmart. Everyone was excited with the new basketball addition. The goal was quickly assembled and found its new home outside the Teen Room. Members at Anderson Club were surprised with a visit from WNBA star and entrepreneur Tamera “Ty” Young. She shared some words of wisdom and gifted each Club member with a new pair of Rebooks. Club members smiled wide as they received their shoes and took pictures with Young.
Gift Wrapping Experience at Ponce City Market to Benefit BGCMA
Ponce City Market and Jamestown L.P. partnered with us for a fun holiday fundraiser. For a suggested donation to BGCMA, guests who purchased gifts at Ponce City Market gained access to the Misfit DIY Wrapping Co. On weekends, from Nov. 27-Dec. 19, guests adorned their gifts in a unique, assembly-line wrapping factory. Learn more and donate today!
Mr. Electric Adopts 10 Families for the Holidays
Stephen and Joi Albright are the co-owners of Mr. Electric of Covington/McDonough, an electrical installation and repair service company established in 1994. This year, the Albrights gifted 10 families for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Families at our A.R. “Gus” Barksdale and Shaquille O’Neal of Henry County Clubs received either a gift card or grocery basket with holiday favorites.
Sneaker Shopping with Shaquille O’Neal
On Nov. 30, four members of the Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club of Henry County–Gbolahan (Henry), Jazmyn, Izabelle and Ahmed (TJ)–had an extraordinary opportunity to join Shaquille O’ Neal as he went sneaker shopping with Complex’s Joe La Puma at A Ma Maniere in Atlanta. Shaq talked about signing to Reebok, starting his own sneaker brand, and the problems he’s dealt with from having huge feet. Read more and watch the full interview!
Hiram Police Department Donates ‘Mary’s Gift’ to Paulding County Club
Through its’ yearly calendar advertisement sales, the Hiram Police Department raised $3,110 and donated the funds to our Paulding County Boys & Girls Club to provide Christmas gifts for Club members. This community-supported fundraiser known as “Mary’s Gift,” honors the daughter of a long-time Hiram Police Department employee, Nora Gibboney; Mary tragically lost her life in a car accident. Special thanks to the Hiram Police Department, Code Enforcement Officer Cooper who spearheaded the fundraising event and helped wrap gifts along with Chief Turner and Deputy Chief Lonergan; Board Chair Selena Guiness who assisted with shopping, Board Member Brandon Test who helped wrap gifts, and Board Member Lateefa Conner who assembled a thank-you basket from Club members to the Hiram Police Department.
Virtual State Farm Holiday Drive grants 225 gift Wishes to Chamblee & East DeKalb Clubs
BGCMA participated in the virtual State Farm Holiday Drive, which allocated 115 gift wishes for our Chamblee Club and 110 gift wishes for our East DeKalb Club. Not only did kids and teens get their wishes granted, but parents were also served hot chocolate and cookies during pick up time.
Georgia Furniture Mart Decorates Trees at A. Worley Brown and James T. Anderson Clubs
On Nov. 30 and Dec. 2, the Georgia Furniture Mart team installed and decorated Christmas trees at our A. Worley Brown Club in Norcross and James T. Anderson Club in Marietta. This is the second year Georgia Furniture Mart has done this at A. Worley Brown, and first year at Anderson. “We are so thankful to be able to give back to our community this holiday season,” said Tim Padden, co-founder of Georgia Furniture Mart. “We hope the kids enjoy them.”
@GAfurnituremart donated and decorated 🎄 Christmas trees at our Boys & Girls Clubs in Norcross and Cobb County. The spirit of giving is here…thank you!🧑🎄 pic.twitter.com/Xdpkm2CRJt
— Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (@BGCMA_Clubs) December 10, 2021