The Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau announced an exciting new program earlier this month at an event honoring the late A. William McKee, a founder of the club and well-known plateau philanthropist.  The Dream Big Program, set to kick off in 2016, will be a guiding force to help Boys and Girls Club members realize their goals and dreams, whether those dreams are guitar lessons or medical school. 

 

The program will provide a mentor to each child who wishes to participate, and together they will create a plan to achieve that goal.  Once met, a reward system will be in place to continue to encourage all club members to keep dreaming and continue working towards their goals.

 

Club members, staff and Board, as well as McKee friends and family were in attendance for the unveiling of the program and the catalyst that set the idea in motion—a life-sized Peter Pan costume custom made for William McKee by good friend Linda Cravey.  Cravey, like all who knew Mr. McKee, was certainly familiar with the likenesses between the visionary McKee and the adventurous boy who could fly and never grew up.  Through the generosity of Dick and Linda Cravey, McKee Properties, and the McKee family, the now framed Peter Pan costume will hang as the centerpiece of the Dream Big Wall, where McKee can continue to inspire all to never doubt what one can do.

 

Children from the club remember McKee as the man who constantly reminded them, challenged them, and helped them to “dream big.” At the beginning of each year, new club members will create a placard illustrating their future goals and dreams to become a part of the wall as a visual reminder to be confident and dream big.