Club, Staff Receive Chamber Award Nominations

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sheboygan County had four reasons to celebrate at the Chamber Champions Gala on February 10th 2022. The organization received nominations from the community in four categories – Nonprofit of the Year, Service Organization of the Year, and the Working Together Award. Additionally, the Club’s Director of Operations, Gwen Weber, was nominated for a staff MVP Award.

One community member who nominated the Club said the organization has worked tirelessly at meeting the evolving needs of kids during the pandemic,

“They increased resources to train and equip staff for meeting the needs of kids with trauma and mental health challenges. There are so many kids suffering from trauma and mental health issues because of the pandemic. The Club continues to be a reliable and responsive resource for kids and families and it’s no small feat.” — Nominating Community Member

Board member Christine Voice was happy to see the Club’s work recognized, “Being nominated is an honor. I’m so proud of the work this team is doing to bring vital services to hundreds of kids in our community.”

The Staff MVP Award was a new category in 2022, and it was no surprise that the Club’s Director of Operations received a nomination. Gwen Weber has worked for the organization for more than 15 years, and is responsible for the quality of our programs. According to CEO Christina Singh, that’s a topic that took on new meaning in the pandemic. Singh said Gwen oversaw the shift to a more intense focus on math and reading to help combat learning loss. She also helped to implement improved social/emotional learning programs, and services that address an increase in trauma and mental health challenges in kids and teens. Gwen took on the management of several new grants that are bringing much needed services to Sheboygan youth, such as the Be Great Graduate program that was started in 2021.

“Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you Gwen is always there for them and never fails to make time when it comes to helping her team. The work she’s done over the years has empowered thousands of kids. Gwen is an incredibly dedicated leader and youth advocate.” — CEO Christina Singh

[pictured: 4 people pose holding nomination plaques – Board Member Natasha Torry, Board Member Christine Voice, Director of Operations Gwen Weber, CEO Christina Singh]