We’re also thrilled that Atlanta Falcon Alge Crumpler, and his wife Jen, made the trip with us.
Alge had a great 2003 season. He had a career-high 44 receptions for 552 yards, the most by a Falcons tight end in 23 years. As a result, he was a Pro Bowl starter this year, and we know he’s going to have another big year this season.
Alge is more than a great football player. He’s a great human being.
He cares about kids and community, and walks the talk of getting involved. When he isn’t blocking or making big plays in the Georgia Dome, he’s in schools speaking and reading to students.
Crump has been the honorary campaign chair for Boys and Girls Clubs back in his hometown of Greenville, North Carolina. He’s also earned the NFL’s “Extra Effort” award for community service.
Since Alge’s come here to see you – you should come see him at the Dome this fall, and watch him make some of his famous one-handed catches.
We count Americus as an important part of Falcon Country, since it’s the home town of our former coach and good friend, Dan Reeves – one of the finest people I’ve ever had the privilege to work with.
Dan’s record as an NFL coach is sure to take him to the Hall of Fame, and we’re proud that he called the Falcons “home” for seven seasons.
President Carter, it would probably be better for everyone if you were the featured speaker tonight! Someone who has won the Nobel Peace Prize probably has more important things to say than the owner of an NFL football club (even if it is the Atlanta Falcons).
I’ve had the great pleasure, over the years, to journey along the same path as President and Mrs. Carter on a number of occasions:
- On an Outward Bound trip with their son, Chip
- In a Home Depot store, where Stephanie and I offered some home improvement coaching support
- Working on a Habitat House together right here in south Georgia
- As a trustee of the Carter Center, which does so much to fight poverty and promote human rights
- And, last year in March, on the stage at Atlanta’s Symphony Hall, where people from all walks of life gathered to honor President Carter for receiving the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize.
Not too many of us – no matter who we are and how much we accomplish – will achieve the kinds of things that President and Mrs. Carter have done to help and enrich the world.
But we all have a job to do here on earth.
We each have something we are meant to do – or someone we are supposed to help.
I really believe that.
Educator Benjamin Mays put it this way:
“Every person is born into this world to do something the world needs – and if he (or she) does not do it, it will never be done.”
That’s an amazing thought, isn’t it?
It means every member of the Boys & Girls Clubs in Sumter County has a mission in life – even if you don’t know what it is yet.
It means every adult and child in this room has a purpose in life – whether we’ve discovered it or not.
If Benjamin Mays was right, all of us have something we are born to accomplish.
We have a job to do.
As a young man – growing up in Queens, in New York – I didn’t know what my “calling” was in life. I didn’t know then what I wanted to do, where I wanted to live, or how I would make a living.
Like many of you, life wasn’t always easy for me or my family.
Both of my parents worked extremely hard, putting in long hours at our family business. Sometimes it was difficult for them to make ends meet.
My father, mother, brother and I lived in a small, one- bedroom apartment. My parents let me and Michael, my brother, sleep in the bedroom while they slept on a pull-out sofa.
The greatest loss I’ve ever experienced in life was when my father died. He was only 44 – and I was just 15.
He was a kind person who always took time to play ball with me or help me with my homework. He loved being with people.
He died suddenly of a heart attack, and losing him was very hard on all of us.
My mother was 37. With bills to pay and two young sons to put through college, she took over my dad’s business. Mother became the breadwinner and tried to be both a mother and a father to two sons.
It wasn’t easy.
But no matter what our situation – or how little we had at times – my mother always made it clear to my brother and me that there were other people far less fortunate than us.
Both of my parents always gave their scarce time – and even scarcer dollars – to charity. They taught us to behave as though everything we do in life can make the world a better place.
They taught us we have a calling in life to be our brother’s keeper.
My mother taught me a lot.
She taught me a great love of music. She’d take us by bus, then subway, then bus to Carnegie Hall. It was the beginning of another lifelong passion of mine –the arts.
I also loved sports. In high school, I played baseball and football, and I ran track, too.
I was always competitive, and sports were the perfect outlet for that. Sports also taught me about teamwork, friendship and character – and what it means to stick to something, even when you get knocked down a lot.
When I got a little older, I learned they call it “perseverance.”
Later, when I went to Babson College, I helped pay my way by running a laundry business – picking up and delivering other students’ clothes on campus. I started a landscaping business, too.
I took school seriously. I thought being a good student was important, even if it was hard sometimes to study and get everything else done.
I studied accounting, and went on to work at a public accounting firm and our family business, where I put in long hours.
Most of the adults here probably know where I eventually ended up – co-founding The Home Depot with my friend and partner, Bernie Marcus.
It was my passion and life’s work for 23 years. My family and I – along with hundreds of thousands of Home Depot associates – have been blessed by the tremendous success of Home Depot.
I believe we were successful because we built our company on a foundation of unchanging values. Values like listening to the customer, putting people first and respecting each other.
We follow the same values today at the Atlanta Falcons and at our Family Foundation.
But I want you boys and girls to know that the things that shaped my life – the things that are still important to me today – I learned when I was your age.
I never could have gotten to the point where I had the opportunity to be successful if I hadn’t learned from the things I experienced as a young boy.
The importance of family;
The value of education;
The appreciation for music and the arts;
The benefits of physical fitness and sports;
The importance of working hard;
The strength of faith; and
The value of giving back to the community.
These things made a world of difference in my life.
They’re not much different from the things this Boys & Girls Club is committed to:
- Education and Careers
- Sports and Fitness
- The Arts
- Life Skills, and
- Character Development.
Listen to your coaches. Listen to your teachers. Listen to the staff.
Most importantly, listen to your heart.
All you need to do is stick with it. If you have any question about that, just look at Rory Edge – last year’s Youth of the Year, who sang for us earlier tonight. Rory, you’re a role model and a wonderful example for younger Club members. We are all proud of you.
To the adults here tonight: let’s resolve to do whatever we can to support these young people on their journey. They’re here at this event because they’ve earned it, by virtue of their achievements and character.
Let’s support them by doing whatever we can to help the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sumter County.
The size of this gathering tonight tells me that Americus is the kind of place where people join together to fulfill their responsibilities to community. This is where you live, work, and raise your children.
It’s a special place.
Thanks for letting me, Stephanie, Alge and Jen join you. We believe in you, we believe in what you are doing.
Thank you, God bless you, and good night.
