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Tony Caridi keynotes annual Boys & Girls Club dinner

Tony Caridi, speaker at The Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg’s 21st annual Dinner Tuesday in Vienna, signs a copy of the children’s book he wrote, “Where, Oh Where, Oh Where Could We Go? Traveling West Virginia High and Low” for Dave Fleming. (Photo by Jeffrey Saulton)

VIENNA — Helping and guiding today’s children was the topic during the The Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg’s 21st annual Dinner at Grand Pointe Conference Center Tuesday night.

Tony Caridi was the guest speaker. Caridi has worked for the West Virginia Radio Corp.’s Metronews Statewide Sportsline for over 20 years.

Caridi said it is important for adults to have a concern for children, who through no fault of their own, have been dealt difficult situations in their young lives.

“It is invaluable if just one person provides a solid relationship to a young person growing up,” he said. “Statistically that person has the extraordinarily higher chance of to be successful.”

Caridi said studies show it is important for those relationships to begin at a young age.

“It is important to get a hold at a young age, because 90 percent of people who are addicted began that road before they were 18 years of age,” he said. “If you can get a hold at a younger age it can prove to be so important. They can overcome the obstacles because there is a group of people waiting to surround them and to help them,” Caridi said.

Last year Caridi released a children’s book in rhyming verse about West Virginia to promote state pride.

“It’s called ‘Where, Oh Where, Oh Where Could We Go? Traveling West Virginia High and Low,’ and in it we tour around the state visiting the iconic places in the state, like whitewater rafting, the New River Gorge and the Green Bank Telescope.”

Caridi said the book helps promote state pride.

“It also shows the opportunity people have if they want to do something there is someone there who will take their hand and be a guide and help the,” he said. “We all want to give back, share those lessons to that next generation and help them.”

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