David and Kay Hughes, who for more than 30 years have been the driving force behind the unprecedented growth and development of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County (BGCBC), are the recipients of The Jim Moran Foundation Award for 2006. The couple was honored recently at The Jim Moran Foundation (The Foundation) in Deerfield Beach for a lifetime of active service and personal commitment to meeting the needs of the South Florida community.
The annual ceremony included representatives of the BGCBC and The Foundation as well as Hughes' family members. Also in attendance was local African-American artist George Gadson who was commissioned to create The Jim Moran Foundation Award. The engraved, bronze sculpture of a hand rising from an open book next to a ladder is symbolic of the helping hand that David and Kay Hughes offer to help those less fortunate "come up" to be where they want to be in life. The award also includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant from The Foundation which the Hughes plan to give back to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County.
"I can't think of two more deserving people than David and Kay," said Jim Moran, the organization's founder and honorary chairman of diversified automotive company JM Family Enterprises, Inc. "They have both worked tirelessly, seven days a week, for the young people of Broward County. Even when David and Kay take an occasional vacation from their duties at the Boys and Girls Clubs they stay committed to helping other non-profit organizations raise money to benefit those in need—especially at-risk kids."
The Hughes have had a longstanding relationship with the organization. David was hired by the Boys and Girls Club of Indiana in 1960. In 1966, Kay volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club in Evansville before being hired in 1974. She has been a valued employee of the Boys and Girls Clubs ever since. David and Kay relocated to South Florida in 1975 where David was assigned as unit director of the Pompano Beach Club. Currently, David serves as CEO of the BGCBC and Kay as executive assistant.
"It's a great honor to have been selected for this prestigious award," said David Hughes. "What adds to it even more is the fact that it's related to Jim and Jan Moran who are so special and significant to us and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward. It's embarrassing to receive this award for doing something we love to do. To us it hasn't been work."
According to Jim Moran, "It's a tough time to be a kid. Many children in our community have to deal with peer pressure, drugs and gangs. David and Kay Hughes and their dedicated staff offer a safe place for children to get away from those pressures. At a Boys and Girls Club, they can find friendship, help with school, and activities that are just for kids."
The Jim Moran Foundation Award honors individuals who have an established history of giving back to their community through active service and personal commitment. The honoree must exemplify the characteristics of the mission of The Foundation, reflect proven accomplishments that address real community needs and/or concerns and exhibit a spirit that inspires and encourages others to embrace civic and charitable responsibility in meeting the needs of their community. The award selection committee is comprised of the Governance Committee of The Jim Moran Foundation.
