Elizabeth Thomason with Mike and Sandy McManus [Photo: Mary Schenkel]

A crowd of 400 nautically attired guests packed the Moorings Yacht and Country Club last Monday for the 19th annual Angels Dinner, chaired by Marcy DeWolfe, to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County.

During a cocktail hour, a few of the more than 1,300 children served annually through clubs in Vero Beach, Sebastian and Fellsmere mingled and happily shared their experiences with guests.

“I love it,” said Annika, of the brand new Fellsmere Club, adding with a big grin, “I love that we have our own space and we don’t have to worry about how loud we are.”

During a delicious dinner, Bill Munn, board co-chairman with Bill Grealis, said the ‘Anchors Up’ theme highlighted their goal of providing scholarships for children to set sail toward BGC summer camps.

“The Angel Dinner is the most important event we have during the year,” said Munn. With 44 percent of participant families having incomes of $25,000 or less, and about half being single-parent families, he stressed the importance of children having a safe place to go while their parents are at work.

“We see the kids from early morning until 6 o’clock at night, five days a week during a 10-week period during the summer,” said Munn. Camps offer educational activities and athletics, with older members taken on college tours and given assistance in finding meaningful employment.

He said all the seniors in their Destinations Program last year graduated high school, and 99 percent of other club members moved from one grade to the next. After acknowledging donors and board members for their contributions and commitment, Munn recognized Jay McNamara, BGCIRC founding chairman, who led the organization for 14 years.

Emcees for the evening were ‘Captain’ Jaquan Pledger and his ‘First Mate’ Malik Lee, both Vero Beach Club members.

“This is a bittersweet moment for me; this is going to be my last Angel Dinner,” said Pledger. A high school senior, he has already been accepted to the University of Arizona. “The Boys & Girls Clubs changed my life. All the friends and mentors I met got me to where I am today.”

“We have thoroughly enjoyed having Jaquan as a member of our Vero Beach Club since he was about 8 years old, so he’s been attending for 10 years now. He’s been a stellar member,” said Elizabeth Thomason, BGCIRC executive director, presenting him with a $500 scholarship for the college of his choice.

Pledger and Lee recognized the generous sponsors, leading with presenting sponsor John’s Island Real Estate, before club members led the pledge, code and invocation. In addition to maritime-themed songs sung by enthusiastic youngsters, children shared some of their favorite summer camp experiences.

Thomason introduced the Youth of the Year, which recognizes members who exhibit “leadership, academic performance and impact to their community through service.”

Of the three local club finalists, Kiara Castro was chosen to represent the community at the state level. If she wins there she would go on to the regionals and nationals.

“I truly believe Kiara has a very good chance of advancing all the way to the national level,” said Thomason.

“My parents and grandparents came to the United States to provide me with opportunities for my future, and Boys & Girls Club has given me just that,” said Castro, a junior in the International Baccalaureate program at Sebastian High School, expressing her gratitude to the staff at the Fellsmere BGC. “I hope to make my club, my staff and my peers proud, and I feel that it is my responsibility to give back to them and the community that has supported me since my first days at the Boys & Girls Club.”

For more information, visit bgcirc.org.