Ginny Wright recently received a prestigious award honoring her for her work with the Boys & Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter County making a difference in the lives of children.

Wright, who serves as the club’s Executive Director, was recently selected as the Boys & Girls Club of America J. Richard Ullom Rookie of the Year for the Southeast Conference. Each year, the conference — which spans an area from Louisiana to Washington D.C. — selects an executive director who has been their position for less than three years and has had a significant impact on the children in their community while demonstrating club values and leadership.

During a special grand re-opening event at the Club on Thursday afternoon, Boys and Girls Club of America Director of Organizational Development Chet Nichols announced Wright’s award to those in attendance and praised her for her dedication.

Nichols said it is his pleasure to work with Wright, and that she has helped him improve in his role with the organization. Wright’s peers also offer high praise of her, Nichols said.

“She absolutely has a servant leadership heart,” Nichols said of Wright. “She is passionate about the Boys & Girls Club services and the impact the staff has in the lives of the children.”

When Wright spoke to those gathered, she was quick to pass that praise along to others, crediting her staff and members of the club’s Board for the success of the program.

“This award truly is emblematic of the teamwork here,” Wright said.

Wright was named the Executive Director of the club in August 2013, and during Thursday’s event, she shared a story of her early days with the program.

“Word on the street was you had to call a man named Sam LaPorte,” Wright said, adding she made the call and spoke with him. “He said ‘What can I do to help?’ and he has been here every step of the way.”

The support for the club from community leaders has remained high in the past few years, and Wright thanked the community and her board members for the continued support.

Wright also thanked her family for their support and the guidance they provided her.

“There are a lot of books on servant leadership, I know, I’ve read them,” Wright said. “But there is no better example of servant leadership than my two parents.”

The Southeast Conference presented the award to Wright during a conference held recently in Alabama. Seven of the club’s Board members traveled to Alabama without Wright’s knowledge to surprise her and show their support for her at the event.