The Boys & Girls Clubs of Athens hosting the 21st Annual Steak & Steak Dinner Thursday night. Hundreds of supporters, club members and others packed a ballroom at the Classic Center to benefit of the organization. Mike Hackett is CEO. He say’s important to reach youngsters now.
“Workforce development is such a key issue in our community,” according to Hackett.
“The Athens community and the region surrounding Athens have the largest job growth in the state of Georgia. These kids are really going to have great opportunities and we need to prepare them, if we don’t that’s our failure.
He says is this generation isn’t prepared, the Athens area will not continue to thrive economically.
“That means all these jobs that are currently coming about in the Athens area, they’re going to disappear.”
Hackett says the dinner typically raises $85,000.
The keynote speaker for the evening was Tom Crean, the men’s head basketball coach at the University of Georgia.
“I love being involved in things like this and it was an absolute honor when Derek Floyd asked me to be a part of this, Crean said. “I love being a part of it and hope to get even more involved, it just a tremendous thing to be a part of this.”
In addition to coach Crean, actor and comedian Chris Tucker was a special guest. He took to the stage for a few minutes to encourage the club members in attendance.
“I was invited by a good friend of mine and I’m so happy here and I know how important it is to support the Boys and Girls Clubs and the kids here,” Tucker said. “It’s awesome.”
Tucker also stayed for a while after the dinner greeting guests and posing for pictures with crowd members.