All Boards Meeting 2024
At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale All Boards Meeting to close out the business of the fiscal year, board members and partners were recognized outstanding achievements. See photos of this year’s honorees.
YEARS OF SERVICE RECOGNITION
MARY ELLEN MCKEE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE – DR. BERTRAM & BETTY FEINGOLD
SPARK PLUG AWARD – BRAYDON DENNIS
SPIRIT OF PROGRESS – MARIANNE GUENTHER
HARTLEY & RUTH BARKER YOUTH IMPACT AWARD – CHIEF JEFF WALTHER AND SCOTTSDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT
HARTLEY & RUTH BARKER YOUTH IMPACT AWARD – MARY ELLEN MCKEE
JIM HILL AWARD – MARK BOSCO
BOARD OF GOVERNOR’S TOP FIVE
YEARS OF SERVICE AWARDS
FOUNDATION TRUSTEES
MARY ELLEN MCKEE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE – DR BERTRAM & BETTY FEINGOLD
Today, we honor Dr. Bert & Betty Feingold to receive Mary Ellen McKee award. Thank you, Bert, for all that you have done and continue to do for the organization. You are a true champion of kids, for nearly 5 decades serving double duty as Trustee and as Board of Governor. Your passion for serving others have touched countless lives in our community.
On occasion, the Board of Trustees honors an exceptional Trustee (current or former Trustee) who has made such an impact on the Foundation that it would not be where it is today if not for his/her contributions. And we all know that Betty is half of the success too. Together they established the Feingold Conservation Fund that the Foundation manages, that is now in its 11th year! Thanks to their generosity, Club Kids get to participate in eco-friendly projects.
They promote long-term sustainability for the organization through the Barker Legacy Society and Betty has also contributed 14+ years of service on the Ladies’ Auxiliary. Thank you to you both for your dedication and being a shining example of outstanding service for our Club Kids!
SPARK PLUG – BRAYDON DENNIS
This award is for the Board member who exhibits exceptional leadership, tenacity, and spark to advance the organization.
We are pleased to announce that Braydon Dennis has been selected to receive the 2024 Spark Plug Award. Braydon’s commitment and leadership with fundraising events was vividly showcased when he took the reins to chair the inaugural Raise the Rooftop fundraising event in 2022.
Throughout the past year, Braydon has been a driving force behind the success of the Fore the Kids Golf Tournament. He has brought in new event sponsors, injected fresh ideas, and inspires the entire team with his infectious can-do attitude.
Braydon even put together a team of volunteers to paint the Virginia G. Piper Branch teen center and give it a fresh new look.
Braydon’s passion, and dedication is inspiring. He embodies the spirit of the Spark Plug Award, igniting positive change and leaving a lasting impact on our organization.
Congratulations Braydon on this well-deserved recognition!
STRATEGIC PARTNER – ASU AND THE AMERICA READS PROGRAM
This award is given to a corporation or other group that has demonstrated being a true partner to members of the club. Such support can come in the form of monetary and in-kind services and programs or partnerships.
We are pleased to present the 2024 Strategic Partner Award to Arizona State University and the American Reads Program.
For more than 20 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale has partnered with the America Reads program though Arizona State University to provide our Club members who need the most academic support with incredibly valuable tutoring and mentoring services.
America Reads has been an absolute game changer to our organization because it is through this partnership that we are able to pair our Club members with ASU students attending the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College to provide specialized, one-on-one tutoring that we would not have the infrastructure to facilitate otherwise.
Literacy is a driving factor for success in both academics and a career later in life. Our friends from ASU have given our Clubs members the resources to be set up for exactly that- a successful future.
Rob Adams, Director of Community Education Services, and the entire America Reads team have been a pleasure to work with, as we have expanded these services to three Clubs … now serving our Hartley & Ruth Barker, Lehi, and Red Mountain Branches. We are grateful for their partnership, their leadership, and their support in helping our Club members find their pathway to success.
SPIRIT OF PROGRESS – MARIANNE GUENTHER
This award is given to the individual or family for their exemplary efforts to move the organization forward. These efforts are identified as major financial support or strategic leadership in a critical phase of club development.
We are delighted to honor Marianne Guenther with the 2024 SPIRIT OF PROGRESS Award!
Over the course of her two-year tenure as Board Chair of BGCS, Marianne Guenther has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to enhancing engagement and accountability within the Board. Through effective communication and a steadfast focus on execution, Marianne has set a shining example of leadership, inspiring both the Board and staff to strive for excellence.
Marianne’s visionary leadership has been instrumental in shaping and managing the Capital Campaign efforts, paving the way for the realization of a state-of-the-art club at Tonalea Middle School. Her hands-on involvement in the ongoing progress of BGCS has been nothing short of inspiring, as she spearheaded the development of a new three-year strategic plan to guide us towards a brighter future.
Marianne’s dedication, hard work, and visionary leadership have propelled our organization forward in remarkable ways. Her contributions serve as a beacon of inspiration to us all, embodying the true essence of progress.
Please join us in extending our heartfelt congratulations to Marianne Guenther for this well-deserved honor!
RUTH AND HARTLEY BARKER YOUTH IMPACT AWARD – CHIEF JEFF WALTHER AND SCOTTSDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT
This award is bestowed upon an extraordinary individual or group whose remarkable service to youth has made a lasting impact on our community. It recognizes those who share our unwavering dedication to the well-being of children, teens, and their families residing in the Greater Scottsdale area, and have demonstrated their commitment through their exceptional attitudes and actions. This award celebrates like-minded individuals who have gone above and beyond, embodying profound care for future generations, and showcasing an unwavering passion for making a positive difference in the lives of our youth.
It is an honor to award the Ruth and Hartley Barker Youth Impact Award to Chief Jeff Walther. Chief Walther has been instrumental in ensuring the safety of our clubs and best practices. Under his leadership as Safety Committee Chair, Scottsdale PD has provided multiple trainings such as Active Shooter training and real-life scenarios, driving training, and guidance as needed. Additionally, Chief was a leading advocate to move to an electronic storage of policies and procedures which has created a more efficient way for staff to read and engage actively with our policies and ensure up to date information. Chief Walther is always available for serious safety matters to provide guidance and best practices. With his help, we know the clubs are a safer place for our members and staff to be.
Chief Walther has supported the Capital Campaign to build a new Club in the Tonalea community from the very start. He continues to be a strong advocate in the community for this project to give more children in Arizona a safe and fun place to be after school. His passion for the mission and dedication to the staff and board is exceptional.
RUTH AND HARTLEY BARKER YOUTH IMPACT AWARD – MARY ELLEN MCKEE
This award is bestowed upon an extraordinary individual or group whose remarkable service to youth has made a lasting impact on our community. It recognizes those who share our unwavering dedication to the well-being of children, teens, and their families residing in the Greater Scottsdale area, and have demonstrated their commitment through their exceptional attitudes and actions. This award celebrates like-minded individuals who have gone above and beyond, embodying profound care for future generations, and showcasing an unwavering passion for making a positive difference in the lives of our youth.
We are thrilled to announce that Mary Ellen McKee was also selected to be a recipient of the esteemed Ruth and Hartley Barker Youth Impact Award.
For an astonishing 44 years, Mary Ellen McKee has been a selfless warrior on behalf of Scottsdale’s young people. As the first woman on the Boys Club Board, Mary Ellen dedicated herself tirelessly to raising the funds necessary to build new Clubs, including the Virginia G. Piper Branch, driven by her belief that all kids deserve a Club.
Even in her role as Trustee Emeritus, Mary Ellen continues to answer the call from her beloved Clubs.
Mary Ellen’s true passion lies with the kids. She seizes every opportunity to connect with them, engaging in projects, particularly in her Makerspace Studio at the Mary Ellen & Robert McKee Branch.
Recognizing that providing the very best for our kids requires the very best people, Mary Ellen fosters an atmosphere of unity and support, where everyone feels integral to a greater mission. Through her genuine appreciation and recognition of the vital work done by the staff, she inspires them to continue striving for excellence and making a difference in the lives of the youth they serve.
Mary Ellen McKee’s leadership extends far beyond her very substantial direct contributions; she uplifts those around her, acknowledging the vital role each person plays in the success of their shared mission. Thank you and congratulations, Mary Ellen.
JIM HILL AWARD – MARK BOSCO
This award is given to a deserving volunteer who has demonstrated, beyond, a commitment to and a passion for providing youth development services through the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale. This award is to honor volunteerism rather than financial support. This recipient would exemplify the caring and compassionate values that marked the life of our beloved “Commissioner” Jim Hill.
We are delighted to present the esteemed Jim Hill Award to Mark Bosco, whose unwavering commitment and passion for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale’s mission embodies the essence of this award.
While we acknowledge Mark’s significant sponsorship and support for all our events, we are equally grateful for his dedicated service as Board Chair from 2018-2020 and recently as the Chair of the Finance Committee. Mark’s collaboration with the finance department ensures appropriate management of our bottom line and budget year after year.
Mark’s involvement with the Capital Campaign Steering Committee during its inaugural year underscores his commitment to advancing our organization’s mission.
As we know, the number of kids qualifying for Free and Reduced Lunch continues to grow in all our clubs. Mark and his friend Dan Fagan at Tradition Capital Bank decided to bring Taste Fore the Tour here to Scottsdale to provide an answer to this growing dilemma. The event was a rousing success, netting $166,000 in its first year and allowing us to continue to grow our food program.
Mark Bosco’s selfless dedication to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale knows no bounds. His readiness to address the evolving needs of our organization reflects his profound commitment to our cause.
Thank you, Mark, for never saying “no” to the needs of the Clubs.
BOARD OF GOVERNORS TOP 5
The Board of Governors Top 5 award recognizes the five board members with the highest dollar amount given or obtained in the 2024 fiscal year. This year’s recipients, listed in alphabetical order, are:
- Steve Beeghley
- Mark Bosco
- Ian Carter
- Marianne Guenther
- Andrea Robertson
