Alex Boye, pop-star phenomenon turned Mormon Tabernacle Choir -tenor, was the featured entertainer at the annual spring gala fundraiser. He began the night by joining with a student choir in a heartfelt rendition of "Lean on Me." He later sang a medley of other songs where he impersonated Lionel Richie, Louie Armstrong, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. He closed the show with a mime dance which incorporated some of his favorite inspirational quotes.
"There is a healing spirit here and I am grateful to be a part of it," Boye told the audience. "When students come to West Ridge they learn that they can change. They are not bad people, they have just made poor decisions."
Allen Proctor, a long time licensed clinical social worker was honored during the evening with the Legacy of Hope Award in recognition of his oversight at West Ridge since its inception. Proctor was lauded by his son, Dave Proctor as well as by Ken Allen executive director of West Ridge and Bishop H David Burton.
More than 350 people attended the fundraising event, including some of the current academy students who were involved in every aspect of the gala from set up to tear down.
"We are in the business of saving souls here, and when you do that, you change generations," said Ken Allen as he concluded the night.
One-hundred percent of the proceeds for the evening were donated to scholarships for families that may not otherwise be able to place their teens in the West Ridge program.
West Ridge Academyprovides clinical services, education and other programs for teens, both girls and boys, who are identified as "at-risk." Since their founding in 1964, they have helped more than 25,000 teens.