Immediate Release – 10/6/2011
CONTACT: Esther Slack
Development Coordinator
973-478-7662
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GARFIELD PREPARES FOR DECEMBER 1st HOLIDAY GALA
with Announcement of Honorees
Garfield, NJ – The Boys and Girls Club of Garfield will be hosting its Annual Holiday Gala on Wednesday, December 1, 2011 at 7:00 PM at the Venetian Catering Hall in Garfield. The event will feature the Honorees for the Boys and Girls Club Wall of Champions. The evening will also feature live music by East Side Mix, dinner, dancing, open bar and a world class cocktail hour.
Our first Honorees for 2011 for the Wall of Champions are the Austin Family. Miles III and Jennifer Austin children of Ann & Miles Jr. are both Alumni of the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield and have each gone on to achieve tremendous accomplishments. Miles is the starting wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys and Jennifer is a counselor for the Garfield Public Schools and is taking time off to train for the Olympics. Ann Austin works as a physical education teacher in a private school for children with autism. Miles Austin Jr. works as a truck driver for a water company. This past year Miles Austin III and his family created the Austin Family Foundation Inc. The organization was founded by Miles Austin III and he enlisted the help of his family to start the foundation that will work towards helping local youth develop the character and skills needed to become successful adults. This past June the Foundation held their first Golf Outing and as a result made a donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield. The Austin family feels blessed to be able to give back to local communities in this capacity.
The second Honoree for the 2011 Wall of Champions award is Douglas Opirhory, owner of Opirhory Realtors in Garfield, NJ. Doug is also Chairman and Immediate Past President for the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield Board of Trustees. Doug held the position of President of Board of Trustees for two years as the Club transitioned through some very difficult times. It was Doug’s leadership that has put the Club in a position to be as successful as it is today in 2011. Doug is also very involved in the FBI Newark Citizens Academy and has helped a partnership with the FBI and the Boys & Girls Club grow substantially.
Ticket Price for this Gala is only $125.00, Black Tie optional. All people are invited to attend and for more information, advertising opportunities, and sponsorships please contact Esther Slack at or 973-478-7662 ext 14.
The Boys & Girls Club of Garfield serves over 1000 multi-ethnic children per year. They seek to inspire and enable all young people to realize their full potential and have provided opportunity for youth since 1959. They are part of a national network of some 4,000 neighborhood-based facilities, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, which serves more than 4.6 million young people annually, in all 50 states and on U.S. military bases worldwide. Known as “The Positive Place for Kids,” the Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize leadership development, education and career exploration, financial literacy, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation, and family outreach. For more information on Club programs please call (973)-478-7662.