A Very Special Visit

It was entirely fitting for President Bush to visit a Boys & Girls Club in Hartford, Conn. This historic New England community is, among several proud claims to fame, the birthplace of our Movement.

The trip was rich in both symbol and substance. The President is, with Mrs. Bush, our honorary chairman, a position also held by the last 15 occupants of the White House. Across more than 80 years, the support of America’s presidents has increased national awareness about Clubs, a continual connection between the leaders of today and those we serve – the leaders of tomorrow.

President Bush met with some of those young people in Hartford to recognize their support for Malaria No More. This initiative seeks to stem the deadly disease through purchase and distribution of bed nets that protect African families, particularly little children who are most vulnerable, from the mosquito-borne illness.

The President presented Boys & Girls Clubs of America with a very special honor – the Dragonfly Award, named for the natural predator of the mosquito – for Club efforts that educated Americans about malaria and raised funds to purchase 2,500 nets, thus saving many lives.

Events of this kind and caliber do not just happen. They reflect the high esteem in which the entire Boys & Girls Club Movement is held by leaders in Washington, D.C. From the President to Cabinet-level departments to Congress, we are known and respected for a history of service now in its second century.

You are one of the reasons we receive this recognition. Your support for our initiatives helps us get the word out – to the public, to our nation’s leaders and to all Americans – about the important work that is our mission. I am proud of your service and what you do to help us, literally, save lives.