By Keisa Sharpe
Alabama NewsCenter
(center) and Gabrielle Dunlap (right) (Billy Brown/Alabama NewsCenter).
“Home is where the start is.”
That was the theme of last week’s A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club 49th Anniversary Celebration. While the program celebrated the accomplishments of students who excel in class and life, it also honored those leaders who have assisted in their journey behind the scenes.
Mark Crosswhite, Alabama Power‘s chairman, president and CEO, received the A.G. Gaston Vision Award as the program kicked off.
WIAT CBS 42 morning news anchor Art Franklin hosted a sit-down interview, a keynote discussion, with Gabrielle Dunlap, the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club “Youth of the Year” and “Alabama Youth of the Year” first runner-up.
Gabrielle shared her goals, her dreams and the drive behind her motivation. “I’ve always had a giving and loving heart, and my father, I can truly say, was a big impact on that. He was always remembered for being such a loving person and being so giving. So that’s where that inspiration came from.”
She’s considered a role model to many of the younger children at the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club, who not only look up to her, but frequently ask for her help.
“They would start asking me if I could help them with some things, like their homework, and I was happy to do it. It’s just grown from there.”
Franklin asked Gabrielle to sum up her brand in three words. “They would be unconditional love, courage and talent. We all have to continue to get better at unconditional love; talent is something that we all have; and courage because it takes that to do things which are outside your comfort zone.”
Franklin is an award-winning journalist who worked in the Birmingham media market several years ago before returning recently to Birmingham to co-host a morning news program. He also received an award for his long-standing contribution to local media.
Birmingham school board member April Williams told of her personal experience with her children and the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club as she asked the audience members to pledge their financial support.
“You have two students here – Gabrielle Dunlap (honoree) and Cameron Danzy (who led the pledge of allegiance) – who are examples of what your support means to the club. You don’t have to take my word. Just look at them and the other examples of students who are excelling in this environment.”
John Hudson, Alabama Power senior vice president of Marketing and Business Development and president of the board of the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club, closed out the program with well wishes and congratulated the program honorees.
– See more at: http://www.alabamanewscenter.com/2016/05/25/home-is-where-the-heart-is-celebrates-leaders-and-inspires-youth-at-annual-program/#sthash.WMYdHsWB.dpuf
