Martin Luther King Jr. Day is not just a day off, but also a day on. Last Monday, Boys & Girls Clubs around the country celebrated Dr. King and his values by giving back to communities in many different ways. It was an important day for me and some friends, as well.

Every year to commemorate the MLK Day of Service, BGCA’s senior leadership team volunteers at a Club. Last week at the Boys & Girls Club of Pulaski in Tennessee – a unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maury County – Club staff and volunteers welcomed us for a day-long Clubhouse renovation. Improvements included Tech Center updates, new furniture, fresh paint, new gamesroom gear, the addition of big screen TV’s, and new restroom basins. 

Every year to commemorate the MLK Day of Service, BGCA’s senior leadership team volunteers at a Club. Last week at the Boys & Girls Club of Pulaski in Tennessee – a unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maury County – Club staff and volunteers welcomed us for a day-long Clubhouse renovation. Improvements included Tech Center updates, new furniture, fresh paint, new gamesroom gear, the addition of big screen TV’s, and new restroom basins.

That evening during an event celebrating the day of service, we discussed the importance of youth development and its impact on community. Speaking about her Club’s partnership with Maury County Public Schools, CEO Robyn Peery told us how a school tutoring program helped Club members advance to the next grade level. Through a unique data sharing agreement, the Club has access to academic information that enables it to show 96 percent improvement in at least one subject area. Last year, over 80 percent of Club members improved their GPAs. It was a privilege to help the Club continue its mission to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to achieve their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

On Jan. 13, The King Center in Atlanta presented Boys & Girls Clubs of America with The Coretta Scott King Organization A.N.G.E.L. (Advancing Nonviolence through Generations of Exceptional Leadership) Award for exceptional leadership in the areas of peace, social justice, and nonviolent social change, and further citing the work Clubs do on a daily basis to save and change the lives of children and teens. Clearly, this award belongs to the entire Boys & Girls Club Movement.