Boys & Girls Club of Garfield, CEO Honored as 2011 National Professional of the Year

Immediate Release – 5/19/2011

Boys & Girls Club of Garfield, CEO Honored as 2011 National Professional of the Year

Garfield, NJ – At the Boys & Girls Clubsof America National Conference(BGCA) in New Orleans,Louisiana, Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield, Paul Casey was recognized by the Boys & Girls Clubs Professional Association. AtThe Professional Association recognition program in front of up to 1500 conference attendees Paul was recognized as the 2011 National Professional of the Year. This award is presented to the national member of the Boys & Girls Clubs Professional Association who has made significant contributions to the work of the Boys & Girls Club profession, staff and the children they serve while in their current position.

Paul Casey, is currently the Chief Executive Officer for the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield. He and his staff ensure that children have a safe and positive place to grow and learn. Under Paul’s guidance, over 1500 children are continuously being instilled with a sense of competence, usefulness and belonging through programs in education, athletics, healthy living, character, and career development. The Boys & Girls Club of Garfield works to make an impact on children in the areas of Academic Success, Healthy Living, Character and Citizenship. Under Paul’s leadership the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield has opened an additional site at Garfield Middle School. Additionally, the Club has experienced an influx of talented professionals and board members. Paul’s commitment to professional development has taken the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield to greater levels of growth and they can proudly say they are one of the few Clubs in New Jersey to have received a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant from the Department of Education. Additionally, they were chosen by Boys & Girls Clubs of America to be a Pilot site for a new Major Gift fundraising program that BGCA is rolling out. This program has put the Club in a position to accept Major Gifts and to work with potential Major Gift donors. Currently, the Club is in the middle of the It Just Takes One annual giving campaign being led by member of the Board of Trustees and former Bergen County Sheriff, Leo McGuire.

Paul also currently serves as the Chair of the Garden State Professional Association. In this role, he ensures that fellow New Jersey professionals’ statewide benefit from networking, recognition, training and professional development opportunities. In addition to being named the 2011 National Professional of the Year, in 2010 Paul was also given the honor of being named Executive of the Year by the Garden State Professional Association.

Paul received his Masters of Science in Human Service Administration from Springfield College in 2003. Before coming to Garfield, Paul worked for eight years under the guidance of his mentor Russell Triolo as the Plainfield Club Director and then Director of Community & Alumni Relations for the Boys & Girls Club of Union County. Paul is the devoted and loving father of two sons, Sean and Evan, and to his wonderful wife Ann.

“Being recognized by my peers is the highest form of flattery” said Casey. Being named the National Professional of the Year is one of the greatest honors a Boys & Girls Clubs Professional can receive as Boys & Girls Clubs of America has over 4,000 locations and 51,000 trained professional staff members nationwide. Paul Casey has overseen the regrowth of the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield and his leadership and the development of the Board of Trustees has shown a 100% increase in youth participation in the last three years. Casey’s short tenure with the Garfield Club has also seen the integration of the Jr. Boilermakers Football Program and the resurgence of the teen outreach programs.

“To me, this is not a day where I am being recognized. This recognition really highlights the great things that the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield’s organization is doing to help children fully realize their full potential as productive and caring citizens.” said Casey. This is the attitude and message that Paul Casey has brought the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield and has allowed it to be as successful as it is.

GREAT FUTURES START HERE

The Boys & Girls Club of Garfield serves over 1000 multi-ethnic children per year. They seek to inspire and enable all young people to realize their full potential and have provided opportunity for youth since 1959. They are part of a national network of some 4,000 neighborhood-based facilities, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, which serves more than 4.6 million young people annually, in all 50 states and on U.S. military bases worldwide. Known as “The Positive Place for Kids,” the Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Boys & Girls Club programs and staff work to make an Impact in the areas of Academic Success, Healthy Living, Character & Citizenship. For more information on Club programs please call (973)-478-7662.

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