"color: black; font-size: 11.5pt">The Eastern Shore Chamber of

Commerce is proud to present the 27th Annual Mayors' Prayer

Breakfast, which will be held on the National Day of Prayer,

Thursday, May 5 at 7:30 am at the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf

Club and Spa. The Mayors' Prayer Breakfast brings

communities together for an

inspirational and uplifting

"font-size: 11.5pt">breakfast with special guests Mayor Fred Small

of Daphne and Mayor Tim Kant of Fairhope and Mayor Joseph Bonner of

Spanish Fort.

"font-size: 11.5pt">     The keynote speaker this year will be John

Croyle, founder and executive director of Big Oak Ranch, Inc.,

which includes three ministries - Big Oak Boys’ Ranch in Gadsden

(1974), Big Oak Girls’ Ranch in Springville (1988) and Westbrook

Christian School in Rainbow City (1970). The ranches and school

provide a quality, Christian home and education for children who

simply need a chance.

"font-size: 11.5pt">     Croyle has been married to the former

Teresa Smith for 36 years and the couple has two children and two

grandchildren.

"font-size: 11.5pt">    Croyle was a former University of Alabama

National Championship defensive end for the legendary Coach Paul

“Bear”Bryant. At 19 Croyle felt he had been given a gift to work

with young people. His dream was to have the best children’s home

in America. On the advice of Coach Bryant, Coyle pursued that dream

instead of a pro football career. Over 1,800 children have called

Big Oak Ranch their home since 1974.

"font-size: 11.5pt">     “A hundred years from now it will not

matter what kind of house we lived in, the kind of car we drove or

how much money we had in the bank,” said Croyle. “But the world may

be different because you and I were important in the life of a

child.”

"font-size: 11.5pt">     Sponsors for the 2010 Mayors' Prayer

Breakfast are BancorpSouth, Hatch, Mott & MacDonald, Baldwin

EMC, Regions Bank, Thomas Hospital, Vision Bank, Volkert, Inc., and

Mercy Medical. Sponsorships are still available.

"font-size: 11.5pt">     "The Mayors' Prayer Breakfast is a time

for our business community to pause, be thankful for what we have

and recognize the strength of working together," said Darrelyn

Bender, president/CEO of the Eastern Shore Chamber of

Commerce.

"font-size: 11.5pt">     The cost for attending the event is $30

per person. The general public is invited to attend. Reservations

must be made and paid. Call 621-8222 to RSVP and for more

information.