The following piece was provided by the Watertown Boys & Girls Club:
As the Watertown Boys & Girls Club (WBGC) approaches its 50th anniversary Gala celebration on Oct. 28, 2022, the list of those who have contributed to its success is long. As part of the celebration, the last two executive directors Renee Gaudette and Allen Gallagher, who shepherded the Club for more than 30 years consecutively, recollected some of those who helped make the Club such a welcome resource for the children and teens of Watertown.
The list includes folks who guided the kids every day, who have donated their time, talent, and treasure, and even some of the notable Club kids. The list of contributors extends far beyond those on this list, but in the spirit of this golden milestone, here’s 50 for 50, a by-no-means comprehensive and in-no-particular-order list of those who come to mind for Gaudette and Gallagher.
“While we were not at the Club 50 years ago, Allen and I heard countless stories from board members and family members of the below ‘founders’ who helped set the Club on its course for providing a safe, nurturing, and transformative experience for our local Watertown youth,” remarks, Renee Gaudette, the Club’s most recent Executive Director.
“The Club was more than 20 years into its history of building great futures for our youth in Watertown when I became Executive Director and I met many of these ‘founders,’ who were very dedicated to the mission of the WBGC. Without their vision and commitment, the Club would not be where it is today,” comments Allen Gallagher, long-time former Executive Director. “In my tenure at the Club, I witnessed first-hand the impact of these founders, and their families should be proud of the legacy that lives on today for today’s and tomorrow’s generation of youth in Watertown.”
We will be recognizing individuals, families, businesses and more over the next five Tuesdays. This week’s category is Founders.
Founders – in 1972 the Watertown Boys Club opened its doors to the community’s children and teens, putting the Club on a path over 50 years to becoming the largest non-profit serving children and teens in the community. In 1980 the Club became one of the first in the nation to admit girls and was re-named the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. Here’s some of the Founders who built the foundation upon which the Club stands half a century later.
FOUNDERS
The Airasian Family
Larry Caruso
Charles Chamberlain
Bernadette Corbett
Malcolm Hecht
Hank Frissora
The Manzelli Family
Stephen P. Mugar
Joyce Munger
The Whitney Family
The WBGC is the largest non-profit serving children and teens in Watertown. The Club annually serves more than 1400 kids as members and represents a vital part of the community, helping kids strengthen a healthy lifestyle, achieve academic success, and develop strong leadership skills. The entire community is welcome to celebrate this milestone anniversary at the Gala 50th on Friday, Oct. 28th at the Hellenic Center in Watertown. It’s a ticketed event with all proceeds going to the Watertown Boys and Girls Club. Go to https://watertownbgc.org for more information. We hope to see you there!