I was honored to be selected at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota County Kids Night Out Gala as a recipient of the Hometown Hero Award. It was a special evening at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota on Nov. 8th.
I have always respected the work done by the Boys and Girls Club organizations, it is truly a remarkable place where youngsters can grow, develop, and create friendships and skills that will last them a lifetime.
The evening featured two greats - one in athletics and one in the entertainment world.
We were so blessed to have speak at the event, Johnny Bench, Hall of Fame catcher for the Cincinnati Reds and movie legend, Danny Glover. I was in awe meeting Johnny as he is without a doubt the best catcher to ever play the game. He spoke to the crowd that evening and his one liners had everyone rolling out of their seats. It was also a thrill to meet Danny Glover. I have enjoyed his work for so many years. He was truly inspiring when he addressed the audience and told of his personal experiences growing up in the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco and how those experiences helped shape him into the man he is today. The event also honored six individuals from Sarasota as "Hometown Heroes". I was flattered to be a part of that group that included Betty Schoenbaum, Diane McFarlin, Teri Hansen, Graci McGillicuddy and Dr. Richard Vinton. It was a special night benfitting a terrific cause.
For more photos from the evening CLICK HERE