2024 Donor Snapshots
Thanks to our incredible donors in 2024, we continued to open the door to great futures for millions of kids and teens. From Board members and alumni to national staff, foundations, corporations, major donors, and monthly donors, we’re deeply grateful to all who believe in the potential of our young people.
From Club Parent to National Trustee
Bonita (right) and her daughter, Blake (left)Southeast National Trustee Bonita Price first learned of Boys & Girls Clubs of America when she enrolled her daughter, Blake, in summer camp at Samuel S. Gray, Jr. Boys & Girls Club at Asylum Hill. There, Bonita witnessed BGCA’s mission unfold as 8-year-old Blake discovered her passion for basketball, ultimately earning a scholarship to play at Manhattan College. “I’ll forever be grateful to BGCA for helping to unlock her potential,” Bonita says.
In 2023, Bonita joined BGCA’s National Board of Trustees. As a Trustee, she understands the responsibility to give and has done so gladly and consistently. She has also visited numerous Clubs across the region, serving kids and teens alongside her fellow Trustees. Inspired by the Club members she’s met, the stories they’ve shared, and the staff who’ve made an impact in their lives, Bonita, who is also chief merchandising officer of Family Dollar, continues to support Club kids through her resources, networks, and strengths as a corporate leader. “My time as a Trustee has been rewarding in many ways,” she says. “For years to come, I hope that Club youth will continue to find their voices and advocate for issues that matter most to them.”
One Family’s Generational Commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs of America
From left: George E. Murchison, Clint Murchison III, and George’s nephews Clint “Cinco” Murchison V, and George J. MurchisonThe Murchison family’s commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs of America traces back to 1965, when the late Clint W. Murchison Jr., founding board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, helped open the organization’s first branch in West Dallas. His son, the late Clint W. Murchison III, was active with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, serving as a volunteer and leader for over 35 years, and with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, serving as a Southwest National Trustee for 24 years.
Today, George Murchison, Clint’s son and Clint W. Murchison Jr.’s grandson, continues their legacy by giving his time, wisdom, and resources. He taught a year-long financial literacy course at Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco’s Tenderloin Clubhouse. He also serves on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas Foundation and succeeds his father as a committee member of the John B. O’Hara Charitable Trust, which supports the needs of local Boys & Girls Clubs in Dallas, Texas.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s profound impact on children, their families, and their communities nationwide is the motivation behind George’s continual support of the mission. “I am inspired by Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s ability to empower kids year after year through relentless effort and tireless belief in kids,” he says. “The Clubs are a trusted piece of so many communities, and one can’t help but be impacted by their efforts to improve the well-being of youth.”
A Club Alumnus Dedicated to Empowering the Next Generation
Alumnus Terry Mancilla is passionate about supporting opportunities for youth. His passion stems from his own experiences growing up as a Club kid at Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco — experiences that fueled his aspirations and shaped who he is today. “I’m grateful for many fond memories of sports, wood and metal working, guided by caring, powerful mentors who had a profound impact on the future adult I was later to become,” says Terry.
After earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in engineering and enjoying a long and successful career, Terry retired in 2006 and began teaching engineering courses at his alma mater, San Francisco State University.
Terry believes investing in the total Club Experience is essential for future generations, and he hopes to inspire others to invest in the future of America’s youth. “Establishing a charitable gift annuity allows me to give something significant to Boys & Girls Clubs of America and my local Club now — without having to wait — while meeting my personal financial goals during retirement,” he says. “Making a charitable gift annuity to BGCA is my way of paying it forward, giving more kids access to healthy meals, encouraging mentors, and meaningful life experiences that help achieve their next great moment!”
A Father and Daughter Supporting America’s Young People
Cindy (right) and her father, Scott (left)Cindy Schechter’s partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America began with a direct mail campaign nearly three years ago. She was impressed with our work and made a donation from the Walter S. Roberts Charitable Foundation, which she established in her father’s memory in 2022.
Cindy’s father, who was called by his middle name, Scott, often gave to causes benefiting families and children. Growing up during the Great Depression, Scott often faced uncertainty about where his next meal would come from. This hardship made him deeply empathetic to the struggles of other families, and he was determined to help them whenever he could.
Soon after her first donation to BGCA, Cindy was invited to visit her local Club in New Jersey, Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic. She was thrilled to learn more about how the national organization and her local Club support youth with snacks and meals in addition to academics, sports, and mentoring programs. Her partnership with the national office and her local Club has flourished ever since. She’s grateful to work with BGCA, ensuring the foundation’s gifts are targeted for maximum benefit. “I look forward to many more years of partnership between the foundation and BGCA,” says Cindy. “I feel certain that [my father] would be proud to have his name associated with an organization so committed to helping kids reach their full potential.”
Doing Great Things for Her People in Her Everyday Work
Since the age of 13, Kelly Concho-Hayes has had a passion for working with American Indian communities. Kelly, who proudly identifies as Navajo, Acoma, and Zuni, grew up inspired by her grandparents’ stories and wisdom. Their mobility was limited, and watching Kelly run to their house, they would often say, “As’bah, you will do things for our people, and you will be the one to go places for us. You are our legs.” Kelly took this to heart, leading her to work for BGCA, where she has been employed for 10 years and is now the lead director of Organizational Development for BGCA Native Services. Guided by a vision to support all American Indian communities in building great futures for youth while honoring each community’s unique culture, BGCA Native Services staff are deeply committed to serving Clubs and young people on Native Lands.
Kelly is grateful to be a part of this work and to see the profound impact it’s having on Native youth. It’s what motivated her to also become a donor with BGCA’s employee giving campaign, contributing to our culture of philanthropy. When asked about the long-term impact she hopes her work and donations will have on Native Tribes and youth, she acknowledges the richness of their heritage, which shapes their identity. “I hope Native youth continue to honor our ancestors and remember that our ancestors are so proud of them…My heart will always belong to Native Lands.”
