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Eleven Outstanding Leaders Inducted Into BGCA's Alumni Hall of Fame

SAN FRANCISCO, May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to a recent Harris Interactive survey, 57 percent of Boys & Girls Club alumni said "the Club saved my life." A closer examination of the 2008 inductees into Boys & Girls Clubs of America's (BGCA) prestigious Alumni Hall of Fame proves that the Club was indeed a "positive place."

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This year's slate of 11 inductees honored during BGCA's 102nd Annual National Conference reads like a veritable Who's Who in America with a big city mayor, sports superstars, military heroes, an award-winning architect and an advertising guru. The common denominator they all share - the positive influence of a Boys & Girls Club and their respective contributions to society as adult professionals.

The 2008 inductees include: Executive VP and COO of McCann Worldgroup San Francisco, Joe Burton; NFL Super Bowl official, Mike Carey; Air Force hero and founder of Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, Craig Fitzgerald; Rear Adm. Earl Gay; MLB superstar Dan Haren; outstanding architect and founder of Holland Basham Architects, Timothy Holland; NFL Hall of Famer and former U.S. Congressman, Steve Largent; founder of two successful orthopedic companies, Greg Nelson; the Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles; NBA Slam Dunk Champion Spud Webb; and Dr. Dayna Wiedenkeller, president of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association. BGCA also welcomes back 2005 AHOF inductee and award-winning actor Courtney B. Vance to host this year's ceremony.

"We are extremely proud of our alumni who have gone on to achieve great things," said Roxanne Spillett, president and CEO of BGCA. "Their stories are very different, but all start out the same - with life-changing programs, caring and attentive staff, and the fun and safety of a local Boys & Girls Club."

The Harris survey also revealed that 81 percent of alumni said Club participation helped them develop a sense of responsibility to give back to their community, and an impressive 92 percent said that helping others is still a priority for them. The 2008 alumni inductees represent a wide range of professions and have a genuine dedication to continue giving back to their communities, both professionally and personally.

"This year's class of inductees represents the power and impact a Club has not only on character and development, but also on civic engagement," continued Spillett. "The 2008 inductees, as well as the other Alumni Hall of Fame members, are living proof that Boys & Girls Clubs impact young lives every day."

Other distinguished members of BGCA's Alumni Hall of Fame include actor Denzel Washington, entertainer Jennifer Lopez, former NBA superstar Michael Jordan, WNBA standout Swin Cash, Olympic swimming champion Brooke Bennett, and Gen. Wesley Clark, former NATO supreme allied commander.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) has been changing and saving young lives, providing hope and opportunity for kids who need them most. Today, some 4,300 Clubs serve some 4.8 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Known as The Positive Place for Kids, Boys & Girls Clubs can be found all across the country and on U.S. military bases throughout the world. Clubs provide young people 6-18 years old with guidance-oriented character development programs conducted by trained, professional staff. In communities large and small, Clubs positively impact lives and help young people reach their full potential as productive, caring citizens. Key Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize leadership development; education and career exploration; community service; financial literacy; health and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and family outreach. In a recent Harris Survey of Club alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their life. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.