THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 10, 1996 TAG: 9604090160
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JO-ANN CLEGG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
For more than 20 years, the Virginia Beach Jaycees have honored the city's Outstanding Young Citizen with a banquet followed by the obligatory speeches.
This year, at the request of the honoree, they'll be doing things a little differently.
Make that a lot differently.
``I was very honored to get the award,'' said this year's selectee, Beach Borough Councilman Linwood O. Branch III. ``But I really didn't want people to have to spend money to see me get an award.''
Instead, Branch, who is running unopposed for re-election, suggested to the Jaycees that he and the club cooperate in organizing a charity fund-raiser.
The result of that collaboration is a concert by the R&B Allstars Saturday evening at Club Rogue's on 17th Street. Proceeds from the fund-raiser will be divided equally between the Jaycees and Habitat for Humanity, a charity made famous by the involvement of former President Jimmy Carter.
``Edmund Ruffin of Rogue's had been talking to me about raising some money for Habitat for Humanity,'' Branch said. ``And I knew the Jaycees could also use money for their work, so I suggested to them that we do the fund-raiser and split the money down the middle for the two charities.''
After their initial surprise, the Jaycees liked the idea.
``When he said `no banquet' we were a little disappointed at first,'' said Kristin Bean, the group's public relations vice president. ``But when he said `fund-raiser,' we were delighted. think what he did solidifies that we made the right choice for Outstanding Young Citizen.''
Branch is modest about his part in organizing the event, pointing out that it was the Jaycees who took the responsibility for publicity and tickets, Bill Reid of Cellar Door Entertainment who obtained the band and Ruffin who donated the location and staff for the event.
``I'll be there,'' the honoree promised, ``but probably just taking tickets at the door or something.
``Since everything is donated,'' he added, ``every penny will go to the two charities.''
Among the projects to be funded from the Jaycees' half of the proceeds are:
The Flame of Hope, which is kept lighted on Oceana Boulevard in honor of military personnel missing in action;
The Kids to Camp program, which sends local mentally handicapped youngsters to Camp Virginia Jaycee near Roanoke; and
The annual Christmas Shopping Tour, in which chapter members take disadvantaged youngsters to buy gifts for their families. MEMO: WHEN & WHERE
The R&B Allstars concert will be Saturday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at
Club Rogue's, 616 Virginia Beach Blvd. Tickets are available for $10 in
advance at Birdland Records, Mary's Restaurant or by calling 446-3150.
They also may be purchased for $12 each at the door. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Virginia Beach Jaycees Linwood Branch has been chosen as the city's
Outstanding Young Citizen.
by CNB