Religious and service groups combine to bring 37th annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast to community. Mayor Dave Golonski thanks those attending for keeping the city of Burbank strong, healthy and vibrant. Former pro-football quarterback Jay Schroeder tells audience to find their God-given ability and use it!
By Joyce Rudolph
BurbankNBeyond
Mayor Dave Golonski thanked those attending Thursday’s 37th Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast for continuing to share their talents and service with their community, and making Burbank a great place to live.
This year the annual breakfast drew more than 300 people to Pickwick Gardens Conference Center.
In his welcome speech, Golonski said while he was introducing someone to emcee Ross Purdy, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, he called Purdy one of the people who makes our community strong, healthy and vibrant. But Golonski realized that that was a common trait of everyone in the room.
“We have a whole lot of people helping pray for our kids, our schools, our city, our churches and it takes everybody pulling together to make that happen and that’s the key that makes Burbank great, we’re not perfect but we try hard, and for that I want to thank you,” he said.
Golonski then gave the Scripture reading from Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV).
Guest speaker Jay Schroeder, a resident of Burbank and head football coach at Village Christian School, talked about his baseball and football career and life challenges after that career. He was the quarterback for the Washington Redskins and Los Angeles Raiders. He also was drafted third overall by the Toronto Bluejays and the 1979 major league baseball draft. While playing minor league baseball he was quarterback for UCLA. He threw what is known as the immaculate reception to Freeman McNeil and UCLA went on to beat USC in 1998.
“You are looking at a guy athletically who did things nobody else did,” Schroeder said. “I tell you that with a lot of humility.. the good Lord gave me the ability to throw things.”
He asked the audience to look inside themselves to find that God-given talent and use it.
The breakfast is a team effort and this year chairman Darrell Taylor was assisted by his father Glenn Taylor, who serves as treasurer; and Bill Bertrand, E. Paul Brodsky, David Carletta, Debbie Kukta, Patrick Patterson, Ross Purdy, Carole Stavert, Herb Vincent, Joe Volpi and Jim Woodburn.
Sponsoring club presidents were Terry Scott, Optimist; Glenn Taylor, Masters Men; Harvey Branman, Noon Kiwanis; Jonathan Taylor, Noon Rotary; and Rodney Gregson, Sunrise Rotary.
Special acknowledgement was made to the Chamber of Commerce for ticket sales; Pickwick Banquet Center and the Stavert Family; and Patterson Graphics for design and printing needs.
Also contributing were Wade Mikels, pastor of Village Church, providing the invocation; Burbank High School Key Club, leading the flag salute; John Muir Middle School choir, led by director Margo Miller, singing special music; Tom Konjoyan, Village Schools headmaster; and JC Holt, providing the benediction.
The annual breakfast is modeled after the Presidential Prayer
Breakfast that has been held each year since 1952 in Washington, D.C.
