Gaining Leadership Skills Through Sports
Boys & Girls Clubs Alumni Stories
Gary Monahan, Boys & Girls Clubs Alumnus
For alumnus Gary Monahan, Boys & Girls Clubs was a special place where leadership training, mentors and sports combined into abundant opportunities that he would not have experienced otherwise. His baseball dreams also came true when his leadership skills were rewarded with a trip to the home field of the Baltimore Orioles.
Gary’s Club Experience began when his parents were looking for after-school care that offered their son a safe environment to learn, grow and have fun. From fifth to eighth grade, Boys & Girls Clubs of Collier County in Naples, Florida, became so much more than an after-school program. Gary credits his Club experience with helping shape his life.
When reflecting on his time at the Club, the mentorship he received from staff stands out in Gary’s mind. There were many staff members who made Gary’s time special, but one in particular was his father. Coach Monahan was a high school football coach who also created and led a class at the Club that taught football fundamentals and skills. This class introduced the sport to many of Gary’s friends and made it more accessible to girls and boys who were interested in playing the game.
Another memorable staff member was Ms. Karen, who worked in the Club’s executive kitchen and taught cooking classes to the kids. Ms. Karen`s joy for her craft and lively personality enhanced the Club Experience for many young people who attended.
One of Gary’s favorite memories as a Club kid was attending a baseball camp hosted by baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was made possible after Gary was awarded his Club’s Youth of the Year title when he was in the fifth grade.
Club kids from all over the country traveled to Maryland to participate in the camp which taught core skills in an exciting environment. Gary also got to play a game at the Baltimore Orioles home field, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, which was especially exciting since he was an avid professional baseball fan.
For Gary, the most special thing about Boys & Girls Clubs is it offers kids a place to just be a kid. The Club introduced activities that a lot of kids may have never had the opportunity to explore like robotics, cooking, sports and art. It was also a safe place for Club members to just have fun.
The Club helped Gary enhance his social skills and build a stronger network of relationships as he became friends with kids from all backgrounds and other schools in his community.
Since his time at the Club, Gary has graduated from the University of North Florida and now works for the Jessie Ball duPont Fund as the Downtown and Riverfront Parks Lead. His role is loaned to the City of Jacksonville’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Gary oversees the strategy and implementation of activation plans for the Downtown Riverfront and other Jacksonville parks, including Riverfront Plaza and Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park. He serves as a liaison between City agencies, for-profit and non-profit partners, and community groups, ensuring that public capital improvements and private development work together.
Gary knows the impact his Club experience had on his life, and he wants to do whatever he can to give our current and future generations of Club kids that same opportunities.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida is launching a new Alumni Club for anyone who has previously attended any Boys & Girls Club as a child or teen. Regardless of whether they attended locally or in another part of the country, all Club alumni are encouraged to sign up for this new unique networking and volunteer opportunity.
The primary focus of this Boys & Girls Clubs Alumni group is connecting with former Club kids to celebrate their accomplishments. Members of the Alumni Club will have networking opportunities throughout the year to connect with one another and with the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida. The group also offers ways for alumni to engage with local Clubs where they can make a difference in the lives of young people.
To learn more or to join the Alumni Club, please visit bgcnf.org/alumni.