September 20, 2008
Rhode Island Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence to honor eight former members by inducting them into the Alumni Hall of Fame
Providence, RI – On Saturday, September 20 the Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence celebrated the National Day for Kids with an Alumni March, the highlight of which was the induction of eight former members into the Rhode Island Boys & Girls Clubs Alumni Hall of Fame. The inductees were Arthur Bonanni, Fred Bruno, George S. Farrell, John M. Kelly, Mayor Charles A. Lombardi, Lt. John J. Reis (Ret.), Clara Lamore Walker, and Peter Wells.
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 and successful business owner
Lt. John J. Reis (Ret.), Retired 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
New this year, each participant in the Alumni March received a Challenge Coin emblazoned with the Boys & Girls Club logo and the Rhode Island Alumni logo. Since World War I, challenge coins have been upheld as treasured symbols of an unbreakable bond. BGCP gave these coins in the same spirit, to demonstrate the unbreakable bond between the Club experience and former members.
This year’s alumni event was part of the celebration of the national Boys & Girls Clubs Day for Kids (BGC Day for Kids).