Willmeng proudly sponsored and attended the Night of Champions Gala and Auction benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley (BGCEV). With the help of over 500 prominent business and community leaders, more than $300,000 was raised during the special evening!
The gala is the club’s main fundraiser of the year, and brings folks in the community together to celebrate and recognize the importance of youth and teens in the Valley. Willmeng President, James Murphy, sits on the Board of the BGCEV, and the company continuously supports the club’s programs because of the mentorship and education that they offer to children.
When the gala’s special guest, five-time heavyweight world champion, Evander Holyfield, was six years old he walked three miles to the nearest BGC in Metro Atlanta before he discovered that the membership fee was 25 cents, which was change he did not have. A neighbor saw Holyfield’s predicament and paid the fee. Three years later, he qualified to compete in the Junior Olympics and continued to box at the Club until he was 21, when he went to the 1984 US Olympics.
“The boys club gave me the opportunity to be the person I am,” he said, stating that sponsors can provide children in similar situations to his own with new opportunities that will also lead them to success. He is now a Boys and Girls Club of America (BGCA) Hall of Famer and has donated over $1 million to the BGC he held honorary membership with.
In attendance from Willmeng was Veronica Davis, Craig Waymire, Karen Harton, Tino Hernandez, Vickie Sweat and Lisa Litzau. We look forward to supporting BGCEV!
Photos courtesy of Great Futures via Flickr
