Each summer, members from the various branches of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego get together for the Summer Games. The day is filled with competition and fun as almost 300 Club members participate in volleyball, soccer, swimming and track & field. Participants are selected through competitions at their local Clubs. The competition has been a Club tradition for 11 years.

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NFL referee Mike Carey is respected throughout the league for his professionalism, preparation and sense of fair play - values made real at the William J. Oakes Boys Club, which he joined at the age of eight. Beginning his officiating career with Pop Warner games in 1972, Mike was hired by the NFL in 1990. In 2008, he was selected to officiate Super Bowl XLII, becoming the first African-American Super Bowl referee. In addition to his NFL career, Mike co-owns Seirus Innovation, a snow sports accessories company he founded with his wife Wendy, in 1979.

This year's slate of 11 inductees honored during BGCA's 102nd Annual National Conference reads like a veritable Who's Who in America with a big city mayor, sports superstars, military heroes, an award-winning architect and an advertising guru. The common denominator they all share - the positive influence of a Boys & Girls Club and their respective contributions to society as adult professionals.

"We are extremely proud of our alumni who have gone on to achieve great things," said Roxanne Spillett, president and CEO of BGCA. "Their stories are very different, but all start out the same - with life-changing programs, caring and attentive staff, and the fun and safety of a local Boys & Girls Club."

"This year's class of inductees represents the power and impact a Club has not only on character and development, but also on civic engagement," continued Spillett. "The 2008 inductees, as well as the other Alumni Hall of Fame members, are living proof that Boys & Girls Clubs impact young lives every day."

Other distinguished members of BGCA's Alumni Hall of Fame include actor Denzel Washington, entertainer Jennifer Lopez, former NBA superstar Michael Jordan, WNBA standout Swin Cash, Olympic swimming champion Brooke Bennett, and Gen. Wesley Clark, former NATO supreme allied commander.

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For David Down, Managing Partner for KPMG LLP's San Diego office, life is centered on family, community and supporting youth athletic programs throughout San Diego County.

In 1976, Dave joined KPMG and was admitted to the partnership in 1987. He became Managing Partner in the San Diego office in 1994 and the Pacific Southwest Partner in Charge in 1998. While continuing to be a successful business man, Dave still finds time to raise a family and give back to the community. Dave served as football, basketball, soccer, baseball and swim team parent for San Pasqual's Athletic Booster Club. Dave is supported by his wife Patti and his four children; Patrick, William, Mary, and Megan. Dave has coached youth and club sports for each of his children and other young athletes through the Boys and Girls Club and other organizations.

Dave is or has been active in several civic and charitable organizations, including the Boy's & Girl's Club of Greater San Diego Board of Directors; Boys & Girls Club of Escondido; the Board of Advisors for the Old Globe Theatre; The Children's Hospital Foundation Board; North County and San Diego County United Way ; USD's BusinessLink Executive Committee; The CONNECT Board of Directors; SDSU's School of Business Advisory Board; Cal State San Marcos Foundation Board of Directors; Economic Development Corporation Foundation Board of Directors; Escondido YMCA Board of Directors; Clean Tech Board of Directors; San Diego Hall of Champions and the Junior Seau Foundation Board of Directors. Dave has been a member of the Escondido Kiwanis Club and the Escondido Main Rotary Clubs.

The Golden Achievement Awards Dinner has been the major fundraising mechanism for the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Diego for the past 45 years. The event helps support services provided to over 20,000 San Diego youth. David Down joins a list of distinguished recipients that include; James Copley, Bob Breitbard, Theodor Geisel, Bill Kolender, Jonas Salk, Helen Copley, Governor Pete Wilson, Alex Spanos, Ernie Wright, Corky McMillin and Dean Spanos.

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The Kid for Life Planned Giving Endowment Campaign was created to secure a future for the kids at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego County. The purpose of KFL is to identify planned gifts to the Club, as well as to acknowledge the contribution of the donors and let them know the impact those gifts will have on our kids far into the future. Please see our website, www.kidforlife.org to see how you may again be filled with the boundless optimism of a child! Thanks for supporting the kids!

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