MG Enthusiasts Support Gatlinburg Boys & Girls Club Chapter

Photo(from left) Kathy Evans of the Gatlinburg Convention Center sales staff, Gatlinburg Boys & Girls Club branch director Rhonda Morris, Gatlinburg Mayor Jerry Hays and Tourism Director David Perella. GATLINBURG – The Gatlinburg Chapter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Smoky Mountains took another step toward its $1.2 million construction goal with a check received through the City’s Department of Tourism Monday. The North American Council of MG Registers donated a check for $2,000 to the club, money generated through a fund-raising event held at the group’s meeting in June at the new W.L. Mills Auditorium in Gatlinburg. Attendees from across the country and a few from outside the United States gather every five years for the event, which attracted 1,100 vintage MG cars and 1,300 participants to the convention center this past summer. Rick Ingram, the MG group’s conference chairman, said the car enthusiasts select a worthy organization to support through their host destination. The devotees learned of the building fund of the Boys & Girls Club’s Gatlinburg branch and felt a contribution would be investment in all our futures. “They were very enthusiastic about supporting the Boys & Girls Club here,” said David Perella, Tourism Director. “I think this is wonderful,” said Rhonda Morris, branch director of the Gatlinburg club. Construction next to Gatlinburg-Pittman High School started in August, with an opening date targeted this summer. Mark Ross, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Smoky Mountains, said over $1 million in contributions and pledges have been received and that the club hopes to reach the goal of $1.2 million by the time the chapter opens its doors. The Gatlinburg club will be the largest of the five branches in the Smoky Mountains, serving 500 or more youngsters, he said. “It’s a great thing for the City of Gatlinburg and the whole area,” said Mayor Jerry Hays. “We’ve got a lot of boys and girls who will take advantage of this club for years and years.” Kathy Evans of the Gatlinburg Convention Center sales staff said this is the second event the City has booked which made a donation to the Boys & Girls Club. “The first was the Curve Cowboy Reunion, a BMW Motorcycle Group,” she said.