Longtime Director Of Boys And Girl Club Retiring

Craig Reeves, longtime director and Chief Professional Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Montgomery County is retiring at the end of July. Reeves began working for the club in 1988 as the Athletic Director. Three years later he was moved to the top spot as Executive Director. When Reeves came to the club, it was cash-strapped with a budget of less than $50,000 and only two employees. Today, the Club’s budget approaches $1 million, and Reeves manages a staff of more than 20 employees.

According to longtime Board member Bobby Horton, “It is impossible to exaggerate the profound impact that Craig has had on the Club, its kids, and our community. He has helped improve the lives of thousands of kids and has jumpstarted the careers of countless employees through his intense devotion to the mission of Boys and Girls Clubs of America and his genuine concern for the welfare of our county’s youth. I am proud to have worked with him and am excited by the foundation he has set from which the Club can build.”

Indeed, Reeves has been instrumental in establishing partnerships and building a strong network of support for the Club, including a Capital Campaign that raised more than $2.5 million and enabled the club to move from an outdated facility on Chestnut Street to the beautiful facility the Club now occupies on Whitlock Avenue.

“I understand the time and hard work that goes into different things and projects by our Club as a whole; including, the Club’s staff, Club members, board members, and even by families and friends, and recruited volunteers . . . all of who choose to help out during a time in need,” Reeves explained.

The Boys Club, as it was called when it opened its Crawfordsville doors in the mid-1950s, has grown exponentially under Reeves’ watch. Before he arrived, members primarily came from children who lived within walking distance of the Chestnut facility.

Today, the Club serves kids from all three school corporations on a daily basis, and membership has tripled in size, to more than 3,000 members. The After School Program has grown from around three dozen kids to 150, and the Summer Program has gone from 30 to 130.

“The Club is a great facility with financial stability, both of which should be celebrated with wonderful things on the horizon,” Reeves said. “It is exciting and an answer to prayer for so many! All of this because of the great support and work we have accomplished over the last 35 years.”

Reeves has garnered many awards and honors over the years, including being named Professional of the Year by the Boys & Girls Club of America.

“I am thankful of the impact that we have made in the lives of so many kids and their families,” Reeves said. “You may know many of them, but their stories are all their own. 8I feel blessed when they randomly sit in my office for me to return from a meeting or they stay on hold while I’m on another call with someone. It’s not about me, I truly enjoy hearing about how the Club has made a difference in their lives. I’m proud of those kids with their success stories . . . but I also have compassion and empathy for those that share their lesser stories and the fact that they reach out to talk about them. It is and always has been about the Club.

“We are thankful and grateful for our entire community for supporting us and the children that we serve,” Reeves added. “I have been blessed with having dedicated and caring staff members who did all the important work. I am grateful for our past and present board members who gave a 23-year-old kid a chance as well as all for the volunteers who coached our athletic teams and helped out at our special events, community dinners, afterschool and more.

And the Club’s board is certainly thankful for Reeves’ work at the Club. Current Board President, and former “club kid”, Troy Mitchell notes, “I would like to express my gratitude to Craig, and his family, for their dedicated service of 35 years at the Club.

Throughout his tenure, Craig has devoted a substantial amount of time and effort, sometimes at the expense of his own family, for the betterment of the Club. Most people strive to leave something better than they found it, and Craig has undoubtedly achieved that. I wish Craig nothing but the best in all his future endeavors.”

The Board of Directors will hold a celebratory Open House in honor of Craig on Friday, August 4th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Club’s Whitlock Avenue facility. His final day is scheduled for July 28.

BREAKOUT BOX

Timeline

1988: Hired as Athletic Director, 2 staff members (less than $5,000 in bank) fundraising

was less than $5,000

1991: Hired as Executive Director ($100,000 budget)

1996: Conversation started on building new facility (70 kids in after school)

1997: Hired consultant for needs assessment

1997: Acquired Montgomery County Youth Soccer Program and 17 acres of land on

Whitlock Avenue

1998: Set $2.5 million fundraising goal / facility drawings completed

1998: Fundraising goal met

1999: Groundbreaking on Whitlock Avenue

2000: New 34,000 Sq. ft. facility opens

2001: $300,000 budget, 8 staff members

2001-2010: $400,000 budget, New Playground, Club hosts Indiana Area Council Conference for Indiana Clubs 12 staff agreement with all 3 school districts to provide transportation to Club. Club purchases 2 mini buses to transport kids from middle schools. Club began annual partnership with League of Women’s Voters in hosting Reality Store for all 8th grade students.

2011-2015 Community Dinner Program,1st Annual Campaign raised $17,000, partnered with Youth Service Bureau and hosted alternative school until new YSB building was ready, provided transportation with Inspire Program through YSB.

2016: $500,000 budget fundraising tops $289,000 14 staff members.

2016-2019 Budget over $700,000, Shelter House built Annual Campaign tops $80,000, Combined fundraising efforts reach $367,000.

2020-2023 Budget set at $947,000, $1,150,000 if you include large grant. Purchased 2 mini buses, Security Video Surveillance with front entrance monitoring, Annual Campaign goes over $100,000, Fundraising efforts exceed $600,000 and over $800,000 with large grant. Over 20 staff, kept Club open during COVID and kept all staff working which included a meal program for our families and internet activities for our kids, adapted after-school program to classroom model which became very popular with our parents, new afterschool partnership with Crawfordsville schools in the fall of 2023 with site at Hose Elementary School, new before school care program beginning in the fall of 2023. Solar Energy Panels completed by August of 2023.