Denyce Graves, Trey Songz & Others Inducted into BGCA Hall of Fame

On May 13, top athletes, entertainers and business leaders will be inducted into Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) Alumni Hall of Fame.

Since its inception more than 100 years ago, BGCA has provided kids of all backgrounds with the opportunity to grow and realize their dreams. To celebrate the accomplishments of former Boys & Girls Club members, BGCA annually recognizes distinguished alumni during the organization's annual National Conference being held in Chicago in 2015. This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Alumni Hall of Fame program, as well as the year the organization changed its name from Boys Club of America to Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

The event, hosted by Courtney B. Vance, honors alumni who have gone on to make major contributions in their fields from sports to entertainment to business. Their stories are very different, but all started out the same - with the life-changing programs, caring staff and fun, safe environment of a local Boys & Girls Club. The BGCA Alumni Hall of Fame "Class of 2015" inductees include the following: WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon, three-time GRAMMY Award-nominated singer/producer/actor Trey Songz, Fashion and Music consultant for FOX's hit drama "Empire" and Business Executive Monique Mosley, NFL Hall of Famer Andre Reed , world-renown violinist Earl Carlyss, President and CEO of the Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. Larry Young, two-time Oscar nominated costumer designer Ruth E. Carter, leading opera singer Denyce Graves and Professional Golfer on the PGA Tour Robert Gamez.

"Ensuring today's youth have the encouragement and inspiration they need to pursue their dreams is at the core of our organization and the Class of 2015 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees all showcase how a local Boys & Girls Club can be a critical element to ensuring a great future," said Jim Clark, president and CEO of BGCA. "We are honored to have such exemplary inductees join the other prestigious members of the Boys & Girls Club of America Alumni Hall of Fame in its 25th year."

More background on this year's outstanding inductees:

Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & CEO

The Elizabeth City Boys & Girls Club provided McMahon with a sense of belonging and a vision of what is possible, both of which were lacking in his home environment. He looked up to Club staff, who mentored and cared about kids. The feeling that somebody cared about him meant the world. Meeting other kids and teens from all walks of life showed McMahon there was a whole world of possibilities out there beyond what he knew. Since those early days, McMahon has become one of the most well-known pioneers in the entertainment industry, catapulting the WWE brand from a small, regional wrestling promotion to a global, family-friendly entertainment brand with television programming in 650 million homes in more than 175 countries and 35 languages. Today, WWE is one of the most recognized brands in the world with nearly half a billion social media followers. McMahon continues to carry forward the experience he had at The Club by supporting numerous programs and partners to help make a positive impact in the lives of children and families around the world.

Trey Songz, Grammy Award-nominated Singer, Producer and Actor

Growing up in a military family, Tremaine Neverson, better known as Trey Songz, moved from Virginia to Florida with his family when his stepfather was transferred there. Boys & Girls Club of Panama City helped him adapt to his new environment. While he enjoyed singing, Songz never considered performing publicly until friends convinced him to enter a talent contest when he was 14. After graduating from high school, Songz landed a deal with Atlantic Records. He released his first album in 2005 under the name Trey Songz. Over the past decade, he has been nominated for multiple Grammy awards, and won two Soul Train Awards. His latest album, "Trigga," debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. Additionally, Songz founded the Songz 4 Peace Foundation to help curb youth violence by spreading a positive message to young people in communities nationwide.

Monique Mosley, Business Executive and Fashion & Music Consultant for FOX's hit drama "Empire"

When 12-year-old Mosley walked into Boys & Girls Club of Dayton, she was welcomed with open arms. It meant the world to Mosley's mother to know her daughter had a safe place to spend her time constructively. Mosley grew up to become a P.R. and marketing professional, representing clients such as T.I. and Kanye West. She has also developed marketing campaigns for companies such as Verizon, Turner Networks and Motorola. Mosley currently serves as a fashion and music consultant of FOX's hit drama "Empire". In addition, Monique along with her husband, Tim "Timbaland" Mosley, is the founder of the Always Believing Foundation, which works to address the health and wellness of youth. She is also an ambassador to the United Nations Youth Foundation, and a trustee for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Andre Reed, NFL Hall of Famer

Growing up, Reed could be found at Boys & Girls Club of Allentown almost every day. He spent a lot of time playing sports, but also learned respect, resiliency and the importance of self-improvement at the Club. He learned if he worked hard and surrounded himself with positive people, he could achieve his dreams. After starring at quarterback on his high school football team, Reed enrolled at Kutztown University, a Division II school near Allentown. He played wide receiver, setting school records for catches, receiving yards and touchdowns in a game, season and career. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1985. He played 15 seasons for them, going to four Super Bowls. In 2014, Reed was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Earl Carlyss, Grammy Award Winning Violinist

Chicago native Earl Carlyss was a member of the world-renowned Juilliard String Quartet for 20 years. When Earl was 10, he won a local violin competition. From that point on, he knew he wanted to be a professional violinist. At Boys & Girls Clubs of Pasadena, the Club director encouraged Carlyss to apply for the Epstein Fine Arts Fund Grant administered by Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He won the grant and moved to France to study at the Paris Conservatoire. After two years, he returned to study at The Juilliard School. He made his debut recital in 1962 in New York City. Carlyss became a member of the Juilliard String Quartet in 1966. Over the next 20 years, he performed over 2,000 concerts and made 100 recordings with the quartet, earning three Grammy Awards in the process. Today, Carlyss teaches violin and chamber music at Juilliard.

Larry Young, President and CEO of the Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc.

When Young was five, his grandfather would take him to boxing matches at the Boys & Girls Club in Springfield. Young liked going there so much he became a member. What stood out most to Young was how the Club helped kids better themselves. They learned social skills, the value of diversity and the importance of being ambitious. Those valuable lessons stuck with Young, who began his career driving a truck for Pepsi and is now CEO and president of Dr Pepper Snapple Group. Larry and his wife, Colette, a trustee for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, support Clubs at the local and national levels. This includes serving as National Co-Chairs for BGCA's Alumni & Friends Association.

Ruth E. Carter, Two-time Oscar Nominated Costume Designer

The Springfield Family Center Boys & Girls Club was like a second home to Carter. She participated in many activities, including coloring and drawing. Her love of art led her to pursue a degree in costume design at Hampton University. Carter went on to intern at the prestigious Santa Fe Opera and the Los Angeles Theatre Center. It was in Los Angeles where she met Spike Lee, who hired her as costume designer for his film "School Daze." She has since worked on some 40 films, including "The Butler" and most recently as the costume designer for "Selma." Carter has been nominated for two Academy Awards for her work on "Malcolm X" and "Amistad", making her the first African-American to be nominated for best costume design.

Denyce Graves, Opera Singer and Cultural Ambassador for the United States

The spirit, excitement and enthusiasm at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington were what attracted Graves to the Club. She especially enjoyed the jazz dance classes, and was grateful for the sense of pride and belonging she felt at the Club. After graduating from Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Graves studied voice at Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory. After apprenticing with the Houston Grand Opera, Graves took the opera world by storm. She is especially well known for her portrayals of the title roles in "Carmen" and "Samson et Dalila," which she has performed with renowned companies such as the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera and La Scala.

Robert Gamez, Professional Golfer on the PGA Tour

As a child, Gamez's gift for golf foretold his future as a professional golfer. He credits the Lied Memorial Boys & Girls Club with nurturing his talent by instilling him with the discipline to practice his game diligently. When he was 17, he won the 1985 Southern Nevada Amateur. At the University of Arizona, he won the Jack Nicklaus College Golfer of the Year Award. His first time out as member of the PGA Tour, Gamez won the 1990 Northern Telecom Open and has now been on the PGA tour for more than 25 years, winning the tour three times. Since 1990, Team Gamez Foundation has contributed over $1 million to children's charities, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lake & Sumter County in Florida.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.

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