THE STORY BEHIND THE TIES

It was the end of another school day when Da'Nall Wilmer, a former Baltimore County Public Schools teacher, encouraged the boys in his class to wear ties for class pictures. He was stunned to learn that these students neither owned a necktie nor knew how to tie one. At that moment, he knew something had to be done.

Mr. Wilmer reached out to family, friends, and colleagues to receive donations of ties. Initially, he only needed 12 neckties but received hundreds. As a result, Mr. Wilmer held a series of workshops in his school, teaching approximately 500 boys how to tie and properly wear ties.

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Mr. Wilmer's Well-Dressed Workshop was a widely successful program that sparked the interest of community leaders, celebrities, government officials, and various media outlets. These boys then came to school dressed for success each week for an initiative called "GQ Tuesday." 

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Mr. Wilmer did not stop there. While recognizing the need for students to reach their fullest potential, he continued to mentor some of these young men and ultimately decided to take his ideas a step further.

In 2016, Da’Nall Wilmer founded Boys in the Good.

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Boys in the Good is an after-school youth leadership program that helps boys develop new attitudes, behaviors, and ambitions while recognizing the importance of dressing well and being respectful. Boys participate in weekly character education workshops, community service projects, and enrichment experiences. This program aims to inspire young men to reach their fullest potential academically and socially. All boys serve as school community leaders and work daily to fulfill the aims of Giving, Optimism, Originality, and Determination.