State’s Attorney Glasgow, Terry D’Arcy donate new transport van to Boys & Girls Club of Joliet during dedication ceremony
December 7
JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow and Terry D’Arcy of D’Arcy Motors have partnered once again to purchase and provide a transport vehicle to another vital community service agency: The Boys & Girls Club of Joliet.
Terry D’Arcy of D’Arcy Motors, State’s Attorney Glasgow, and Executive Director Kahlil Diab hold up a replica of a title to the Boys & Girls Club’s new transport van.
The state’s attorney and the local business leader joined forces to deliver a new 16-passenger van that the Boys & Girls Club will use to transport youths to and from field trips, special events, educational, and athletic opportunities and other beneficial programs with partner organizations like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. The van was presented through their ongoing public-private partnership to provide meaningful assistance to at-risk children in our community
State’s Attorney Glasgow and D’Arcy have split the $27,000 cost for this safe and reliable transport vehicle, which they presented to Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Kahlil Diab during an afternoon dedication and title-transfer ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 7 at the club in downtown Joliet. The Rev. Herb Brooks, who is also a Will County Board Member, blessed the van during the ceremony.
Making certain the Boys & Girls Club can safely transport its participants to various activities enables this important youth organization to function effectively. More than 1,000 youths, ranging in age from 6 to 18, are enrolled in the program, which for more than 60 years has provided a safe and positive environment where young people can engage in fun, character-building activities supervised by informed, supportive adults.
On any given afternoon during the school year, between 115 and 120 children come to the club in downtown Joliet to participate in various activities. That number skyrockets to 450 children per day during the summer when school is not in session.
State’s Attorney Glasgow, Kahlil Diab, and Terry D’Arcy.
“The Boys & Girls Club provides a critical positive influence on at-risk children in our community,” State’s Attorney Glasgow said. “This vital organization provides a safe haven for young people where they can participate in fun, constructive activities under the skillful and compassionate guidance of dedicated mentors. These adults help them build character and self-esteem, enabling them to steer clear of the evils of street gangs and drugs. We want to make certain that the lack of a reliable transport vehicle doesn’t keep these kids from participating in events and programs that can literally save their lives.”
The State’s Attorney continued: “Experience makes it clear that every dollar that we spend on prevention and intervention like this saves us 10-plus dollars in remedial costs. This investment in our Boys and Girls Club will result in huge dividends down the road. Terry Darcy’s eagerness to participate in this life changing public-private endeavor is further evidence of how our local business leaders understand the need to give back to the community they serve.”
Director Diab said: “We are humbled by the compassion and generosity shown by State’s Attorney Glasgow and Terry D’Arcy with this much needed donation. This concerted effort is a true testament to their commitment to the at-risk youth in our community.”
State’s Attorney Glasgow and D’Arcy have purchased a total of four vans since 2015 for the following agencies: the Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County; two vans for the Forest Park Community Center; and the Spanish Community Center. The transport vans they have donated all were able to accommodate 14 to 16 passengers and were critical to the functioning of these agencies. The Boys & Girls Club van marks the fifth van they have donated together.
It is important to note that State’s Attorney Glasgow utilized no taxpayer funding to cover his half of the van expenditure. Instead, he used money he seized from criminals who were engaged in illegal activities in Will County to pay for the van.
For more information on the Boys & Girls Club of Joliet and its programs, please call (815) 723-3434.