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The Boys and Girls Club of Weirton received a special gift of $21,250 in stimulus funds with the assistance of U.S. Congress Alan B. Mollohan on Friday.

Mollohan, D-Fairmont, attended the Boys and Girls Club of Weirton on Friday where he presented a check to club administrators.

Joe Alongi, Hancock County assessor and president of the Boys and Girls Club, stated it was a special day. He said the Boys and Girls Club of Weirton has been blessed with good fortune as he introduced each of the board members present.

Kevin McCartney, a federal representative for the Boys and Girls Club of America, stated he has worked with the Boys and Girls Club of America for more than 20 years. He said the Congressman's Committee doubled the funding to allow the operation of a club that assists over 4 million children across the nation.

"Congressman Mollohan has been significant in West Virginia and the nation," said McCartney to the crowd. "He is a real jewel."

Mollohan said it has been his pleasure to be associated with the Boys and Girls Club of America, which he has been involved with since 1994. He said anything associated with focusing on the community and especially the children of a community is an asset. He stated he served as chairman for the Boys and Girls Club of America in Washington, D.C. for one year and it was one of the best associations he ever made.

"Nothing is more satisfying than working with people who are working in the community to make it better," he said. "Those people who if they had enough funding to achieve their goals can make a difference."

Mollohan stated he has the pleasure of bringing those funds to those people to see the goals and ideas geared toward children come to life. He said he doesn't have the pleasure of being at each center daily, but said he attempts to make up for his lack of presence by helping provide funding for the clubs.

"Watching those children play in this building thrills me and it's great to be here," he said.

One youth member of the audience, Jacob Greathouse, had something to say to Mollohan.

"The Boys and Girls Club is everything to me and thank you so much for bringing this money to us so we can keep coming here," said Greathouse.

(Dickson can be contacted at adickson@weirtondailytimes.com)