Published: March 26, 2008 09:39 am         

Boys & Girls Club get funds from AG

Oprah Winfrey Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Kelvin McGruder said the Kosciusko club received more than $28,000 on March 18 from Attorney General Jim Hood. Payouts were based on attendance.

Hood distributed $800,000 to 20 Boys and Girls Clubs around the state, nearly a year after the money was promised.

"This is one of the best parts of my job, working in the area of prevention and also with the Boys and Girls Clubs," he said.

McGruder said the funds will be used to enhance existing programs and help continue to grow the attendance of the club.

The club has tripled its attendance since moving into the new facilities in 2005.

The money comes from a settlement between the attorney general's office and State Farm Insurance Cos.

The agreement came in January 2007 after Hood sued the insurer and began a criminal investigation over its handling of Hurricane Katrina claims.

State Farm agreed to pay $5 million to cover the costs of the investigation and Hood pledged $1 million to charity.



Hood said the $200,000 to be given to the Cal Ripken Foundation will go to a baseball-oriented program that will be run in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Clubs.

The largest check of more than $133,000 went to the Boys and Girls Club of the Gulf Coast. The Central Mississippi club received more than $111,000.

Heather Ryan said the more than $59,000 the Delta branch received could help open new clubs in towns like Belzoni and Winona.

"We're seeing 75,000 to 80,000 kids a day across Mississippi," Ryan said. "That's what this is about."