Around Town

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Hosting Gala, to Give Awards in Celebration of 50th Anniversary

By |

Watertown Boys & Girls ClubA photo taken at the foundation of the Watertown Boys & Girls Club in 1972. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Boys & Girls Club:

The Watertown Boys & Girls Club (WBGC) will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a Gala event, “Celebrating Gold” on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022 at the Hellenic Cultural Center in Watertown. This special evening marks a half-century of dedication and commitment to the youth of Watertown and will honor the accomplishments of Club members, staff, volunteers and everyone in the community who have inspired and empowered youth to build great futures. The evening program will recognize community members, Mr. John Airasian and Mrs. Kelley MacDonald with two special awards for their instrumental roles in the growth and sustainability of the Club.

Around Town

Watertown Race Reels Hosting Monthly Documentary Film Series

By |

Watertown Race Reels, funded by a grant from the Watertown Community Foundation, is a monthly documentary film series open to the public. Race Reels uses documentary films to start conversations about race/ethnicity and work towards creating a community that is comfortable talking about race/ethnicity in a constructive manner. In addition to using documentary films, we invite guest speakers to come to speak on their own experience as members of the race/ethnicity being highlighted that month.We are thrilled to kick off our second year of Watertown Race Reels! On September 12th, in collaboration with Watertown Faces Climate Change (WFCC) and 350.mass, we will be screening Come Hell or High Water: The Battle for Turkey Creek at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club (pizza @ 5:45 p.m., film @ 6 p.m.). 

“Come Hell or High Water follows the painful but inspiring journey of Derrick Evans, a Boston teacher who returns to his native coastal Mississippi when the graves of his ancestors are bulldozed to make way for the sprawling city of Gulfport. Derrick is consumed by the effort to protect the community his great grandfather’s grandfather settled as a former slave. He is on the verge of a breakthrough when Hurricane Katrina strikes the Gulf Coast.

Around Town

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Holding 45th Annual Mugar Golf Tournament

By |

The following information was provided by the Watertown Boys & Girls Club:

The Watertown Boys & Girls Club is hosting its 45th Annual Stephen P. Mugar Memorial Golf Tournament, the organization’s largest fundraising event, on August 22nd at Oakley Country Club. Sponsored by the Mugar Family and the Oakley Country Club, the event offers Club supporters the opportunity to play at the private course while helping to support Watertown’s largest nonprofit supporting children and teens. “We’re so grateful to the Mugar Family and the Oakley Country Club for their support of the Club over these past 45 years,” said Phil Greenough, chairman of the Club’s board of directors. “With the leadership of these wonderful organizations and the contributions of so many other corporations and individuals, this tournament is a signature event for the Club and the community. We depend on this day to fund so many key programs for the more 1400 members of the Club.”

Around Town

LETTER: Head of Boys & Girls Club Bids Farewell to Club, Dream Job

By |

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Renee Gaudette is leaving the club. Here she is seen receiving the Executive of the Year Award. She was nominated by Chris Chrombie, right, the club’s Project Director. Dear Beloved Community,

I am writing to share that, after nine amazing and rewarding years as Executive Director atWatertown Boys & Girls Club, I’ve decided that the timing is right for me to step back. The Board of Directors of WBGC is working diligently to identify the individual who can bestlead our organization through its next phase of growth and impact.

Around Town

Boys & Girls Club’s Renee Gaudette Stepping Down, Club Searching for New Director

By |

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Renee Gaudette will be leaving her position. Here, she received the Executive of the Year Award in 2015. She was nominated by Chris Chrombie, right, the club’s Project Director. The Watertown Boys & Boys Club announced Executive Director Renee Gaudette will be leaving the club leadership position after nine years. Gaudette led the Club through an unprecedented period of growth in membership, programming and funding.

Around Town

Nationwide Health & Wellness Program for Kids Started with Local Organization Teaming with Watertown Boys & Girls Club

By |

A local non-profit organization that provides health and wellness classes to youth around the country got its start by working with the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. One for Health was created by a pair of friends since junior high school, Bruce Campelia and Tom Miller, who came up with the idea in 2011 while sitting next to Lake Winnipesaukee. They wanted to do something to help change the tide of rising childhood obesity and poor health in America, and came up with the idea of providing free classes. Miller had experience building brands having started an advertising specialty business from scratch and making it into a firm that is well known in the industry. Campelia founded technology start-ups and later moved into health and created a wellness center in Pennsylvania.

Around Town

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Staffer Wins Award for Work During Pandemic

By |

Watertown Boys & Girls ClubWatertown Boys & Girls Club Aquatics Director Erin Hickey, right, is congratulated for winning an award by Club Executive Director Renee Gaudette. A staff member at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club received an award for her work at the club. Aquatics Director Erin Hickey was named the Association of Boys & Girls Club Professionals Yankee Chapter Program Professional of the Year. Hickey began working at the club since she was age 15, and in 2019 she was promoted to Aquatics Director, said Renee Gaudette, Executive Director of the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. During the pandemic, Hickey was able to maintain a robust aquatics program.

Around Town

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Funds 4 Teen Positions with Grant from Attorney General’s Office

By |

The Watertown Boys & Girls Club was one of more than 70 organizations statewide to receive funds from the Attorney General’s office aimed at funding summer jobs for young people. Attorney General Maura Healey announced on July 21 that the Boys & Girls Club would be receiving money from the Healthy Summer Youth Jobs Grant Program. The club will receive $2,500, according to a spokesperson from the AG’s Office. The grant allowed the Watertown Boys & Girls Club to fund four positions for teens with health and wellness components including swim instructors and camp counselors, according to Mary Kern, grant writer for the Club. “This grant fits perfectly into our mission of serving ‘those who need us most.’