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LOCAL LEADERS INDUCTED INTO ALUMNI HALL OF FAME
Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence honor seven former Boys & Girls Clubs members by inducting them into the Alumni Hall of Fame
Providence, RI –The Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence inducted seven former members into the Alumni Hall of Fame at a ceremony on September 10. All inductees were active in the Boys & Girls Club as youths and attribute their Club experiences to their success in life. The Class of 2009 inductees are:
M. Therese Antone, RSM, Chancellor, Salve Regina University
Richard J. Blockson, General Manager, The Rhode Island Media Group
Thomas J. DePetro (posthumously), Vice President, Eastern Color and Chemical Co.
Representative Gordon D. Fox, House Majority Leader
Robert T. Kells, Retired, Providence/Lincoln Police
Anthony R. Leone, Ph.D., Retired, Board of Governors for Higher Education in Rhode Island
Stephen J. O’Rourke, Director, Providence Housing Authority
Each year the Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence takes a moment to recognize outstanding Club alumni by inducting them into the Alumni Hall of Fame. The Alumni Hall of Fame was created in 2006 to honor Boys & Girls Clubs alumni accomplishments.
57% of alumni reported on a national survey that the Boys & Girls Club literally saved their life – a staggering statistic that brings into sharp focus the impact of the Boys & Girls Clubs. Shortly after the survey results were released the Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence began to reach out to their estimated 50,000 living alumni in Rhode Island. The Alumni Hall of Fame is one component of their efforts, each inductee standing as testament to the power of the Boys & Girls Clubs.
The 2009 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony and a reception took place at event sponsor the Hotel Providence.
Previously inducted classes include a mayor, labor leader, Boys & Girls Clubs professional, educators, athletes, firemen, police officers, and members of the media.
Class of 2008
Arthur Bonanni, Retired Boys & Girls Club Professional
Fred Bruno, Golf Professional
George S Farrell, Fire Chief, Providence Fire Department
John M. Kelly, CEO of Meeting Street School
Mayor Charles A. Lombardi, Mayor of North Providence
Lt. John J. Reis (Ret.), Police Lieutenant, nationally recognized expert on gang behavior
Clara Lamore Walker, 1948 Olympian and retired guidance counselor
Peter Wells, Owner and Publisher, The Providence American
Class of 2007
Elizabeth Burke Bryant, Executive Director, Rhode Island Kids Count
Robert A. DiMuccio, President & CEO, Amica Mutual Insurance Company
Aram G. Garabedian, President, Bliss Properties, Inc
Paul A. MacDonald, Providence Central Labor Council
John M. Murphy, Founder & CEO, Home Loan Investment Bank
Bella Noka, Community Mediation Center of Rhode Island
Lt. General Michael D. Rochelle, US Army
Richard E. White, Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence
Class of 2006
Elia Germani, Esq., Chairman, Public Utilities Commission
Ernie DiGregorio, Former NBA Basketball Player, NBA Rookie of the Year, 1973
John J. Lombardi, Esq., President, Providence City Council
Patrick C. Lynch, Esq., Attorney General, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Anthony Maione, President, United Way of Rhode Island
Solomon A. Solomon, Professor Emeritus, Community College of Rhode Island