Former Heavyweight Champion Boxing Legend and Boys & Girls Club Alum Evander Holyfield was a special guest at a Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Louisiana meet and greet reception at the law firm of Adams and Reese New Orleans Office on Thursday, July 2, 2015.
The event entertained and encouraged business leaders, executives and city officials to learn more about the mission of the local Boys & Girls Club chapter that, through corporate and individual contributions and government grants, serves more than 1,000 youth 6-18 years old in New Orleans, Covington, Gretna, and Slidell. Holyfield discussed his roots from the age of 8 with the Boys & Girls Club in Atlanta, where he first stepped into the ring at the Warren Unit and began boxing in a Boys Club before going onto a career that included winning an Olympic medal and four Heavyweight titles.
Holyfield represents an impressive list of celebrities and athletes who are Boys & Girls Clubs alumni, including the likes of: Mark Wahlberg, Denzel Washington, Usher, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Louisiana is a nonprofit, children’s afterschool and summer program serving four sites in New Orleans, Covington, Gretna and Slidell. Through such goals as academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles, the Clubs help young people do well in school, motivate them to serve their community and charge them to take responsibility for their well-being. Boys & Girls Club professionals provide youth a safe environment to experience new things, positive relationships with caring adults, high expectations for youth, recognition and a fun environment. The Club is open a minimum of four hours per day during the school year. Summer programs operate 10 hours per day.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Louisiana is one of more than 200 community organizations helped by the Adams and Reese employee volunteer program, HUGS (Hope, Understanding, Giving, and Support). Founded in 1988, HUGS, for more than 25 years, has devoted financial resources and thousands of volunteer hours to offer assistance to those in need throughout the Firm’s regional footprint in seven states and 16 offices in the southeast United States and Washington, DC.
“We are proud to host this event for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Louisiana,” said Rob Bonnaffons, Partner at Adams and Reese and also Co-Chairman of the BGCSELA Board of Directors. “It is important for our City to know the impact that these Clubs have on our youth, and how these safe places help our young people by providing a roadmap of how to become professional young adults and future leaders of New Orleans.”