On Wednesday, November 12, 2014, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas (BGCD) hosted its Inaugural Great Futures Luncheon at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. More than 700 guests braved the cold to show their support for the BGCD and hear featured speaker and former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice.

The Luncheon, presented by Once Upon a Time Foundation, formally launched the first Center for a New Generation (CNG) program in Texas. Co-founded by Dr. Condoleezza Rice, CNG is an innovative academic and enrichment after-school and summer program that allows the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas to integrate schools represented in the Dallas Independent School District Feeder Pattern and Uplift. The program is up and running at Dunbar Elementary to facilitate a more familiar and productive learning environment.

Michele Wheeler, president and COO of Jackson-Shaw, and George S. Watson, president of Steelecreek Management, were the Luncheon Co-chairs. During the Luncheon, BGCD also kicked- off the Great Futures Campaign with a goal of raising $1.5 million dollars to fund the CNG initiative and other BGCD programs.

Dr. Wright L. Lassiter Jr. opened the luncheon by giving the invocation and welcoming Charles English, president & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas to the stage. Charles greeted guests and thanked them for supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas. He then formally announced the new partnership with Center for a New Generation, which is the first CNG in Texas and the 4th in the nation.

As guests enjoyed lunch, a touching video played featuring families and individuals who were positively impacted by the opportunities and support of BGCD. Throughout the Luncheon, the audience also enjoyed musical performances from the Dunbar Elementary Choir, the James Madison High School Concert Choir and Bianca McClure, a Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas Alumna who impressed the audience with the violin. Next, Great Futures Luncheon Co-Chair Michele Wheeler spoke about how the Center for a New Generation program will not only give children new opportunities, but new opportunities that are transforming. She reminded guests to give to the BGCDallas Great Futures Fund.

Dr. Condoleezza Rice then took the stage and kept the room engaged with her sincere passion for today’s youth. Dr. Rice stressed how critical it is that every child has a chance and went on to say, “it does not matter where you come from; it matters where you are going.” Rice also talked about the importance of developing children’s minds and how Center for a New Generation can do that

by providing a world of art and culture. Dr. Rice received a standing ovation as she exited the stage. Chris Trowbridge, chairman of the Board of Directors of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, provided closing remarks and thanked all the sponsors who made the Luncheon possible.

Guests Included: Day and George S. Watson; Harriet Miers; Lisa and Gregg Ballew; Carole and Scott Murray; Karen and Mark Carney; Michele and Jeff Wheeler; Kristie Leatherberry-Konstans; Rachel and Chris Trowbridge; Nancy Rogers; Gina Betts; Stan Barth; Micki and Mayor Mike Rawlings; Veronica Roper; Karen and Tom Falk; Jennis Lewis; Delisa Schlachter; Linda and John McFarland Sr.; Kerri Briggs; Bill Kramer; Michael Meadows and many more.

Inaugural Great Futures Luncheon sponsors include:

Title Sponsor ($25,000): Once Upon a Time Foundation

Believers ($15,000): Jackson-Shaw and Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Role Models ($10,000): Baker Botts L.L.P. /Pat Stanton; Exxon Mobil Corporation; Karen and Tom Falk; Mike A. Myers Foundation; Nancy Rogers; Texas Capital Bank and The Westcott Foundation

Mentors ($5,000): Andrews & Barth; Comerica Bank; Sandra and Gary Fernandes; The Craig and Kathryn Hall Foundation; Karen and Mark Carney; Donna and Robert Chereck; Kathy and Harlan Crow; Fluor Corporation; Susan and Mark Godvin; Holt Lunsford Commercial; Hunt Consolidated, Inc.; Independent Bank; Dorothy Kennington; Locke Lord LLP; Shirley and Bill McIntyre; PwC; Steelecreek Management LLC; Thackeray Partners; Angela and Jim Thompson; Thompson & Knight Foundation; Schiff Hardin LLP

Advocates ($3,500): Capital One; Connie and Denny Carreker; JP Morgan Chase; Communities Foundation of Texas; Kelly H. Compton; Dallas County Community College District; Ernst &Young; Mr. and Mrs. D.S. Freeman, Jr.; Gables Residential/ Stewart Title; Gensler; Rue and Tuck Henry; HFF; International Capital Management Corporation; Barbara and Gerald Louviere; Bobby Lyle; MaryLincoln & Esteban Neely; Northlake College/Richland College; PlainsCapital Bank; The Real Estate Council; Regions Bank; Republic Title; Gay and Bill Solomon; Southern Methodist University; Linda and Rob Swartz; Rachel and Chris Trowbridge; UMB Bank, N.A.; University of Texas at Arlington; University of Texas at Dallas; Westwood Trust; Williams Family Foundation; Winstead; Wright Ginsberg Brusilow; NBC 5

Friends: African American Museum; Mayor Michael S. Rawlings; Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

Special Thanks to Our Educational Partners: Dallas County Community College District; DISD; Northlake College/Richland College; Southern Methodist University; University of North Texas; University of Texas at Arlington; Naveen Jindal School of Management, The University of Texas at Dallas; Uplift Education

Special Thanks to Our Cultural Arts Partners: Dallas Museum of Art and Perot Museum of Nature and Science

About The Center for a New Generation

CNG provides fun, hands-on, project-based activities in the areas of STEM and applied arts, such as robotics, modern dance and debate. These diverse options serve to positively impact the development of key cognitive, social and personal competencies for students. Certified teachers help to further the academic and arts enrichment of the various programs. Because of the targeted selection process, students involved in CNG are expected to remain in the program throughout their elementary and junior high years and are encouraged to transition into BGCD’s Collegiate STEPs program for the duration of their high school experience.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas

For 50 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas mission has been to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Programming in three core areas meets the diverse needs and interests of their 6,000 Club members. These core areas include: Academic Success, Good Character & Citizenship and Healthy Lifestyles. For more information, please visit www.bgcdallas.org.