Photo Gallery: Community supports Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont’s annual Pancake Day fundraiser

BY BRANDY TEMPLETON

The Statesville Event Center was full of smiles on Thursday for the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont’s annual Pancake Day. More than 100 volunteers, including sponsors and club members, helped the event run smoothly.

Guests of all ages enjoyed fresh pancakes, sausage, and a variety of beverages while getting to support a wonderful cause.

Statesville Mayor Doug Hendrix was among the celebrity chefs who took a turn flipping pancakes.

“The Boys & Girls Club is such a key component to our community,” he said. “Anything we can do to help them impacts our entire community.”

Miles Atkins, executive director of the Iredell Health Foundation, agreed.

“It’s amazing to see all these organizations come together and support this,” he said. “Its fun to watch the community leaders.”

Karah Jean-Giles, Co-CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont, was thrilled with the turnout and the community’s support.

Jean-Giles was a member of the club as a child and has fond memories of those formative years. Nakayla Griffin, her Co-CEO, played a critical role in her childhood.

“Nakayla practically raised me,” she shared. “I don’t know if my life would have existed without the club.”