Before discovering the Boys & Girls Club of Bellville, Tony Spears, 18, did not have any direction in his life. The oldest boy of seven children in a single parent household, he struggled with the deaths of friends and family members, and carried a heavy heart. Fortunately, the future began to brighten when Tony joined the Club in the sixth grade.

Tony credits his Club with shaping him into an ambitious, confident young man. At the Club, he took an active role in mentoring, organizing and building positive relationships. He assisted members with their homework, and set an example for others by helping with the Club’s day-to-day operations. 

Tony devoted many hours of service to his Club, high school athletic department and church. He actively participated in Toys for Tots, Operation Christmas, Salvation Army fundraisers and senior citizen outreach programs, and encouraged his younger siblings to become involved as well.

In high school, Tony led a peer-to-peer mentoring and mediation program to help classmates in difficult situations. He also organized a self-help group to teach important life skills to young people.

Currently a freshman at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, Tony plans to pursue a career in radiology.