Ben Adams
Boys & Girls Clubs in Tennessee - 2019 Hall of Fame Inductee
Ben Adams
Ben Adams first began his journey with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis when he joined The Phoenix Club in 1983. The Phoenix Club in Memphis is an organization that is dedicated to supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs through volunteer service and fundraising endeavors. Adams played many roles as a young man inside The Phoenix Club, but his two most important roles were when he chaired the Holiday Greeting Card Campaign in 1985 and later as The Phoenix Club President in 1990. During his term as President, Adams raised over $130,000; which at the time was a record amount for the organization. In 1986, Adams received the coveted Mednikow Award as the outstanding Phoenician of the Year.
Through his time as a Phoenician, Adams became passionate about the work the Boys & Girls Clubs was doing in the city. He decided to join the Dixie Homes Club Board in 1983, and served until 2003 where he was involved in numerous endeavors and committees. He was President of the Club Board from 1993-1994 and was honored once again by The Phoenix Club where he received the “Old Timer of the Year” Award. “Old Timer of the Year” is given to former Phoenicians to recognize their continued service to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis.
Ben has been intimately involved with the leadership, development, and support of the Boys & Girls Club Movement throughout Memphis and across the state. Over the course of his career, Ben has been a passionate representative and outstanding advocate for children and teens who need us most. Adams has proven to be a true “Champion for Children”, through his consistent monetary support both personally and through connecting others over his many years of service to the organization as well as steadfast advice as a board member. He has taken a lead in the fundraising role for the organization, consistently involved in the organizations largest fundraising event – Steak n’ Burger. Adams chaired the award winning and nationally recognized dinner in 1992 and helped raise over $70,000 that year. While it was not a record year its notable in the fact that Adams also that same year simultaneously chaired the overall Leadership Giving Campaign and many gifts were counted to the latter and not the former.
Adams served on the Central Board of Directors from 1991 to 2003. After his 2003 term he decided it was time to take a step back and re-fresh, however it was not long before his desire to help children in Memphis’ most impoverished communities brought him back to the Club. In 2008, he rejoined the Central Board where he remains to this day. He has served in various leadership positions including Chairman in 2011. From 2013-2015 Ben took on the task of chairing the Capital Campaign. Through his leadership and unwavering support he was instrumental in raising over $10 million. This led to the completion of a brand new Boys & Girls Club in the Oakhaven community, which is now home to over 150 youth that walk through its doors each day.
In 2013, Ben was recognized as a recipient of the Ira Samelson Jr. Award for Distinguished Service to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis. This award is considered the most prestigious award within the Memphis organization. Last year, Adams spearheaded the newly created, Phoenix Firebrand Dinner, as a way to honor former Phoenicians, connect current Club members to its roots and raise funds for the programs and services. Last year’s dinner was a huge success for a first year event, and unsurprisingly Adams is already working hard on a way to boost sales, garner support, and raise even more critically needed funding for the 2019 event to be held in the fall.
In addition to Adam’s almost 40 years of support to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, he will be retiring as CEO of his law firm, Baker Donelson, this year. In late April, the firm committed $20,000 per year in his honor to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis for five (5) years totaling a $100,000 donation.
The impact and legacy of Ben Adam’s leadership, dedication and service is virtually unparalleled in the state of Tennessee, he has made an impact on thousands of at-risk youth in Memphis.