Message from the Executive Director
For some, bad
things happen
in life for which
there are no answers, but there
“It’s impossible to be happy…..”
are answering
people. You have
As I do most mornings, I spend my drive to the office
always been
saying my morning prayers. My most important duty and
there for our
our main job at Boys and Girls Country is the safety and
children. You
protection of our children and families, so that’s a common
have been there
theme around our prayers. We agree with our founders,
for 44 years. With
Tommy and Jean Robinson, that the priorities for our chilhelp from friends, neighbors, churches, our Board
dren are God and family first, followed by education. This
and the support of an entire community, we have continis how the Robinsons wanted it. This is our mission.
ued to make things better for our kids. We’re all parents
meeting the demands of our first and most important task,
The new school year begins August 25. Back to school
caring for our children. As a community, if we don’t get
time is a very critical time at Boys and Girls Country. Kids
that right, we won’t get anything right.
like Lilly and Luke, whose story you
What we do here today will change a life
will read on pages 6 and 7, have
“We’re
all
parents
meeting
forever.
only been able to accomplish so
much in their personal and educathe demands of our first
Every child matters. We care about
tional development in such a short
and most important task,
their future, not just sometimes, but
amount of time because of you.
caring for our children. As all the time. We strive to guarantee an
a community, if we don’t
equal shot at education and success
Our kids have dozens of reasons why
they should not be doing well. Howget that right, we won’t get for everybody who’s willing to work for
it. Sometimes our kids are not willing
ever, we challenge our kids to find
anything right. What we
to work for it and leave our program.
the greatness we each have inside of
do
here
today
will
change
When they re-commit, we are here for
us, and by so doing we discover the
a life forever.”
them. Your investment in Boys and Girls
greatness in our community and in
Country offers these opportunities.
our nation. We believe how well we
do as a community depends on how
As you will read in this issue, your generosity at our Spring
well all of our children succeed. We will profit by or pay for
Festival made for a very successful event. Your support
whatever they become.
and encouragement inspires us! We are able to succeed in
our mission because of the blessings found in our partnerOn a Sunday evening in May, our entire campus gathered
ships with each of you, and we are so grateful for that!
for a meal and graduation celebration in honor of Rebekkah. This was a special occasion because she became the
“It’s impossible to be happy without first being grateful.”
first in her family to graduate from college, and she did it
while on the Dean’s List at Baylor University! She accepted
a position in Austin at Oracle, a multinational computer
technology corporation, and is earning a healthy salary,
including a signing bonus.
Lou’s Letter
Rebekkah was 8 years old when she arrived at Boys and
Girls Country, and on this May evening, all the 8 year olds
in the room were listening intently to her. Rebekkah’s
message was as powerful as it was simple. “If I can do it,
you can do it.”
Lou Palma
Executive Director
To learn about events and activities at Boys and Girls
Country, please visit our website at
www.boysandgirlscountry.org.
Make your contribution online! Give securely online at www.boysandgirlscountry.org/donate
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Boys and Girls Country News | Summer 2015