Gala event celebrates 21 years for Aldine YOUTH

Sylvia Bolling and the Sign Choir present “Wind Beneath My Wings” signing dance.

Aldine YOUTH held their 21st Anniversary Gala banquet last Tuesday night at the Hilton Hotel at Greenspoint, and a crowd of over 500 was entertained and honored by the event. Honorary chairpersons were Ken Fisher, CEO of Noble Energy, and Sarah Fisher, CEO of +Works, a non-profit organization aimed at eliminating bullying. Together they have become strong supporters of Aldine YOUTH.
The gala honored many supporters of YOUTH, many of whom received special “Light of Hope” awards from YOUTH founder and executive director Sylvia Bolling.

Awards were presented to Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Shirley Reed, Adela Garza, and Lindia Boutte. Spouse Awards went to Linda Toney, Becky Ellisor, and Ann Rome, all of whom had husbands that were donor/supporters of YOUTH. Educators receiving Awards were Bryan Reed of YES Prep North Central school, Principal Nancy Blackwell of MacArthur High School, and Kenyetta Bolling of YOUTH. Donor Awards went to Woodforest National Bank, Valero Energy, Noble Energy, Advent Presbyterian Church, and The Get Together Northwest.
Sheriff Adrian Garcia presented the keynote talk, praising Sylvia Bolling with “we are blessed that you walk the earth.”
Garcia emphasized that the work Aldine YOUTH does with the youth of the community, keeps them from ending up committing crimes and being incarcerated in the County jails.
“Our technology today doesn’t replace parental translation,” the Sheriff said.
But he cautioned that there is no school to teach how to become a parent, and organizations like YOUTH help to fill this need. Garcia emphasized that today’s youth should be wary of their friends, many of whom lead them astray. He told several stories of his own youth, and how his strict parents kept him from getting into trouble with his friends and peer group.
He emphasized to the crowd that they all have a responsibility to help our youth develop properly, and he said “I’m here to Deputize all of you tonight.”
To the youth present in the audience, and in general in the city, he said “Find the strength to say No, and play by the rules. My jail is overcrowded now.”
Rounding out the evening was a silent and live auction, with Reggie Gray of the HICC Chamber as auctioneer.
Many of the YOUTH staff and students presented entertainment and remarks during the evening for the audience.