Will provide support for students after school and during the summer months
More than 125 people gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony on Feb. 8 to inaugurate the newest Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston club, now open at Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School in Southeast Houston. The festive event in the school gymnasium included officials and board members from Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, Cristo Rey Jesuit leaders, Houston City Councilmember Robert Gallegos, District I, and secondary school students who are now members of the new Club.
The program began with BGCGH staff member Taylor Franklin welcoming guests and introducing sophomore student Mikayla, who gave the invocation and prayer. She noted that she participates in sports and is happy have a safe space after school for enrichment and academic support thanks to Boys & Girls Clubs now operating within Cristo Rey Jesuit.
Cristo Rey Jesuit Principal Drew Hudson, a Boys & Girls Clubs alumnus, was enthusiastic about the new venture saying, “the partnership with Boys & Girls Club allows Cristo Rey Jesuit to further develop the whole student, by ensuring they have a safe and affirming place to engage with each other, strengthen friendships, and find academic support as men and women for others well after the last school bell has rung. This transformative opportunity expands our resources and further connects us to the greater Houston community. Our organizations have aligned to provide a dynamic experience that sets the foundation for a great future.”
“We are excited about this new partnership with Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School, which is providing a strong and affordable parochial school education to so many students,” says BGCGH President & CEO Kevin Hattery. “Our programming here will reflect our core pillars, including Academics, Health & Wellness, Good Citizenship and Workforce Readiness. Drew Hudson is an outstanding role model for his students, and we look forward to working with him and the Cristo Rey staff.”
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- BGCGH Chairman Will Leven, Councilmember Robert Gallegos, student Michaela
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- BGCGH President & CEO Kevin Hattery
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- BGCGH staff member Taylor Franklin with Cristo Rey student Michaela
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- BGCGH staffer Taylor Franklin with Cristo Rey student
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- BGCGH staffer Taylor Franklin
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- Cristo Rey Principal Drew Hudson
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- Houston City Councilmember Robert Gallegos, District I
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- L to R – Zenae Campbell, BGCGH; Paul Beck; BGCGH Chair Will Leven; Robert Gallegos; Mikayla; BGCGH Pres. and CEO Kevin Hattery, Taylor Franklin and Drew Hudson, principal
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- BGCGH Board Chairman Will Leven
Photo caption: – More than 125 people gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony to inaugurate the newest Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston club, now open at Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School in Southeast Houston. Photo credit: Brian Aparicio, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston
Hattery also praised Houston City Councilmember Gallegos, who was instrumental in getting funding directed to the Boys & Girls Club at Cristo Rey Jesuit. “I serve several areas of Houston, including the East End, Hobby Airport neighborhoods and Northeast Houston, and I knew this would be a one-of-kind club that would greatly benefit the young people of this community. I’m proud to be counted among the supporters.”
Board Chairman Will Leven noted that the Cristo Rey Jesuit students who participate in Club activities are more likely to go to college. “We know they will have endless possibilities,” he says. “I also wish to thank community leader Beth Tilney for her vision in getting this Club off the ground.”
As speakers gathered for the ribbon cutting, Mikayla was given the honors to cut the ceremonial ribbon. Students were then invited to participate in various art and activity stations, along with enjoying refreshments.
The Cristo Rey Jesuit Club brings the number of Boys & Girls Clubs locations in the five-county Houston area to 24.
To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, please visit www.bgcgh.org.