Welcome to the Boys and Girls Club of Eden, New York Welcome to the Boys and Girls Club of Eden, New York
Address of B&G Club of Eden, NY
Who We Are....
    and Our Mission


The Boys & Girls Club of Eden, Inc. is a not for profit organization that will provide diversified activities that meet the interests of all youth. Just a few of the club's benefits are:

  • Character development & leadership development
  • Education, & career development
  • Health & Life Skills
  • Arts, Creativity & Cultural Awareness
  • Sports, Fitness & Recreation
  • Summer Camp Programs & Much more



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The Boys & Girls Club of Eden, Inc. ..... is for Boys and Girls. Being a member of a Boys & Girls Club satisfies the age-old desire of young people to have a "Club" of their own.

Our Club.... has full-time professional leadership supplemented by part-time workers and volunteers.

Our Club.... assures that all girls and boys can afford to belong. Membership dues are kept reasonable so that all can afford to belong. No one will be denied membership due to an inability to pay.

Our Club is for All girls and boys, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic culture.

Our Club is building centered. Activities are carried on in the warm, friendly atmosphere of the building especially designed to conduct programs for youth.

Our Club has an open door policy. The Club is open to all members at any time during its hours of operation.

Our Club is guidance oriented. The Club emphasizes positive values in the relationships members have with each other and with their adult leaders. It helps boys and girls make appropriate and satisfying choices in their physical, educational, personal, social, emotional, vocational and spiritual lives.

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Our Mission

To inspire & enable all youth members to realize their full potential as productive,responsible and caring citizens through active participation in positive youth development activities during their leisure time.

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Board of Directors


Officers of the Boys and Girls Club of Eden, Inc.

The Boys & Girls Club of Eden is very fortunate to have strong leadership commitment, from the recently appointed Board of Directors. The Board is comprised of a diverse representation from the Eden Central Schools, Town of Eden Government, Youth Service Organizations, the Clergies of a number of churches, Parents, Business Community & Community Service Organizations. The Club employs a full time Executive Director and eight (8) part-time program directors who will provide program services to the youth along with the help of the Officers and Committee members listed below.

Executive Director: Debra Popple
Program Director: Chad Marczewski
President: R. Colin Campbell
Vice President: Maria Harris
Secretary: Anne Smith
Treasurer: Yvette O'Brien

Board of Directors Members

Jane Bohn
Jay Braymiller
Dr. James Collins
Larren Dosser
Patricia Fatta
Brian Feldman
Pat Howard
Bob Liljequist
Glenn Nellis
Yvette O'Brien
Mary Lou Pew
Rodney Pierce
Bob Pietrocarlo
Richard Schaefer
Anne Smith
Karen Smith

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT Chairperson: Glenn R. Nellis
Members: Jane Clemens, Jim Collins, Maria Harris, Glenn Nellis and John Cappellino
PROGRAMMING
 		Chairperson: Kathie Saab
Members: PROGRAMMING:Bob Liljequist, Karen Smith, John Cataldo, Kathie Saab and Linda Nellis
TECHNOLOGY
 		Chairperson: Mary Lou Pew
Members: Charlie Dias, Donald Loretto, Pat Howard, Cynthia Kugler, John Bermingham, Thomas Pace
BOARD DEVELOPMENT Chairperson: James Collins
Members: Colin Campbell, Pat Fatta, Glenn Nellis, Anne Smith and Karen Smith
HUMAN RESOURCES Chairperson: Robert Liljequist
Members: Pat Fatta, Bob Liljequist, John Cataldo and Rich Schaefer
MARKETING Chairperson: Karen Smith
Members: Maria Harris, Anne Smith, Mary Lou Pew and Karen Smith
FACILITIES Chairperson: Robert Pietrocarlo
Members: Larren Dosser, Jay Braymiller, Pat Howard, Dave Pew, Dale Blanar and Bob Pietrocarlo
FINANCE Chairperson: Brian Feldman
Members: Colin Campbell, Brian Feldman, Yvette O'Brien and Jay Braymiller

Board President, Rodney Pierce, is Ex-Officio to all committees

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Club Staff Members

  

Debra Popple: Executive Director
Jeff Symes:Program Director
Misty Eck:Office Manager
Ryan Payne: Maintenance
Mary Schaefer: Americorp Volunteer
Raechel Barratt: Youth Development Professional
Eric Bermingham:Youth Development Professional
Jordan Jones:Youth Development Professional
Kate Valvo:Youth Development Professional
Ryan Swartz:Youth Development Professional
Anna Wojtanik:Youth Development Professional

History of Our Club

In the Town of Eden, two special people saw a need for our children with a special goal and vision in mind..... These two people, our founding fathers, Karen Smith and Glenn R. Nellis took it upon themselves to survey the southtowns. They discovered what they felt all along, that other people saw the need as well and shared in the same vision. Upon researching to fulfill this need, Karen and Glenn discovered the Boys and Girls Club of East Aurora. Soon the dream (or as Karen may refer to it as the "Dare to Dream") vision became a reality for the community of Eden. The reality and dreams spread like wildfire into the southtown, with the reality of the Club becoming a vivid and real organization for youths from not only all walks of life, but from many places in the Southtown. We are truly grateful and blessed for their vision, dedication and hardwork in making their dreams and reality become our dreams and reality. Thank you Karen and Glenn!

Our building at the Boys & Girls Club in Eden was formally known as "The Meeting Place" Restaurant. (See picture below on left) Built in 1947 by Kenneth Yager. It was used for pasteurizing and homogenizing milk produced by Mr. Yager's herd of cows. The front of the building later became an ice cream parlor and a restaurant. Kenneth Yager had a partner named Kenneth Face. In 1975, the restaurant was managed by Helen Chipman.


Kenneth Yager, born in 1915, passed away in 1985. The property was sold by Kenneth Face to Paul Dippert in 1982. In 1987, the property was sold to James and Linda Sickau, who then sold the property to the Boys & Girls Club of Eden, Inc.* The Boys and Girls Club of Eden officially opened its doors in the fall of 2002 after a complete refurbishing was done of the inside and outside of the building. The picture to the right is a snapshot of what the building looks like today.

*Special thanks to Dorothea Meyers, Eden Town Historian for her research and information she has provided regarding the history of thye building of what is now known as the Boys & Girls Club of Eden, Inc.

History of the First Boys & Girls Club of America

Boys & Girls Clubs of America had its beginnings in 1860 with several women in Hartford, Conn. Believing that boys who roamed the streets should have a positive alternative, they organized the first Club. A cause was born.

In 1906, several Boys Clubs decided to affiliate. The Federated Boys Clubs in Boston was formed with 53 member organizations.

In 1931, the Boys Club Federation of America became Boys Clubs of America.

In 1956, Boys Clubs of America celebrated its 50th anniversary and received a U.S. Congressional Charter.

To recognize the fact that girls are a part of our cause, the national organization's name was changed to Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 1990. Accordingly, Congress amended and renewed our charter.

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