Many people rarely have a need for dropping by the Boys and Girls Club of Jefferson County. But that doesn’t diminish the fact that a lot of good things go on behind their doors.
At the sixth annual celebration of the club’s “Heroes,” Khye Givens, 16, was honored as youth of the year, a designation that came by way of his good grades, how often he drops by the club and how much of a leader and good example he is to other youngsters. Khye checked all boxes.
“Honestly, we have a ball,” he said to the attendees. “When I first came, I was like, ‘I don’t want to do it.’ Four years later, I go every day.”
That’s coming from a youngster who said when he first started going to the club, it was just a way to get out of the house and go somewhere else. Isn’t it a fine thing that the “somewhere else” was a solid, uplifting place to go?
The banquet raises money for the club’s operation and was a good time to mention that $900,000 has been put together for the renovation of the 55-year-old institution, with the West Foundation ($500,000), the Walton Foundation ($300,000) and the Simmons First Foundation ($100,000) giving or committing to give what’s necessary.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“It’s vital because we want to do all we can to support those kids on the north side of our town and make sure we do all we can to encourage them and inspire them to let them know they can be the very best they can be,” said Tavante Calhoun, club CEO. “And they deserve a quality facility like everyone else.”
As for Khye, he was more than touched by the honor.
“To me, it felt like I really accomplished something,” he said. “When I heard the people who did it before, they really had to show that they were really a part of the club. For me to do it … it was a big accomplishment … and something that will stick with me for the rest of my life.”
Congratulations, Khye. We imagine you and your actions will stick with a lot of other people for the rest of their lives, too.