They say children are our future. That said, our community needs to be aware of our local Boys and Girls Club. This valuable resource relies solely on our financial support. As part of the United Way, they receive some aide – but it’s not enough. After Hurricane Katrina, the Southeast Louisiana Region of the Boys and Girls Clubs received grant money to sustain local clubs, including Covington. As that money runs out, the club is looking to the community for ongoing sustenance. It is important at a national level that our local club is able to thrive. Mayor Candace Watkins stated, "The Boys and Girls Club is hitting its stride and needs the support of the community more than ever to provide our kids with opportunities for safe and fun activities, tutoring and mentoring that they may not get elsewhere."
Most have heard of the Boys and Girls Club nationally, but many are unaware that we have a club in Covington. It is located at 801 N. Tyler Street and managed by director, Jerome “Bo” Elzy. The club has kids ages 6 to 18 and a roster of over 300. Working to create the leaders of tomorrow, the club offers mentoring programs, after school tutoring, character and leadership training, education and career development, health and life skills, arts and crafts, as well as sports, fitness and recreation. As Elzy states, “Boys & Girls clubs are needed here now more than ever, to be a safe and positive place in a time of hardship and uncertainty. Our kids are growing up and learning faster than they have to and need a place where they can go to have fun, build meaningful relationships and learn lessons that will help them have a better future”.
My wife, Martha Carr, and I became involved as a result of a concert we produced in the summer of 2008, featuring the pop-folk trio, Girlyman. She and I share a love of music, a wish to bring quality musical artists to the Northshore, and a desire for giving to and promoting our community. Producing a concert to benefit the children in our community was a natural pairing of our passions. An investment in our children’s future is an investment in our future.
After the 2008 concert, whose proceeds went to our local club, Mayor Candace Watkins asked us to participate in the creation of a Board of Directors for the Covington club. We are now co-chairs of that board, and along with the other board members and members of the St. Tammany Leadership Group, we are working to ensure that our club has the financial resources it needs to continue its goal of providing a positive environment for our area’s youth.
This year’s must-see concert features two incredibly talented artists. Glen Phillips, best known as the lead singer for the 90’s pop-alternative group, “Toad the Wet Sprocket”, has a number of hit songs, including “All I Want” and “Walk on the Ocean”. Since selling over 3 million albums with “Toad”, Glen has released a handful of solo works and is currently touring as part of the super-group, Works Progress Administration (which features members of Nickel Creek, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Lyle Lovett’s band, and Elivs Costello’s Attractions). Joining Glen is Vienna Teng. Vienna is currently on tour with producer/percussionist Alex Wong in promotion of their latest CD, “Inland Territories”. A classically-trained pianist/vocalist, Vienna has a velvety smooth voice and beautiful melodies. She has appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, CBS Morning Show and NPR’s Weekend Edition performing such pieces as “Gravity”, “Harbor”, and “Antebellum”.
The evening promises to be a memorable one. It is a chance to see two amazing performing artists on a national tour, but performing in an intimate northshore venue, right on the heels of Mardi Gras. The concert is Friday, February 19, 2010 at 7:00PM (doors open at 6:00PM) at the Fuhrmann Auditorium in the Greater Covington Center (317 N. Jefferson Avenue). Tickets are $25 and available on-line at www.ticketstorm.com. All proceeds go to the Covington Unit of the Boys and Girls Club. We are looking for corporations, local businesses and individuals interested in sponsoring our local club. For more information, call Jeff at (985)807-2020 or call Martha Anne Carr, DDS at (985)727-0047, or visit our website, www.jnmproductions.com. It contains links to the artists’ sites, TicketStorm, the Boys and Girls Club website, as well as information on sponsorship levels for the concert.