For the Kids – Donor Spotlight: Q & A with David Cohen

How did you first become involved with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale?

I was asked to serve on the building committee for the Thunderbirds Branch in Grayhawk in the late 1990s to assist with the construction of that clubhouse. Soon thereafter, I was asked to join the board and served as chair of the facilities committee during the construction of the Mary Ellen & Robert McKee and Vestar Branches.

What motivates you to support BGCS?
Seeing the kids in the Clubs learning, creating, and having fun along with the annual Youth of the Year events which highlight the impact the Clubs have on local youth. I am also amazed that so many of the staff were once Club kids and decided to make it a career choice. It’s a real testament to the impact of our Clubs and the great job they do in creating future community leaders.

How have you seen philanthropy shape the organization?
Philanthropy has definitely shaped the organization over the 20+ years that I have served on the board. It has allowed the Club to serve so many more youth in our community and in the Native American communities. When I originally came on the board, none of our Clubs had dedicated teen facilities and very few teens came to Clubs. Today almost all of the clubs have dedicated teen centers with dedicated programs. It’s been awesome to see the changes and growth of the organization.

What are you most excited about as you look to the future of the organization?
I’m excited to meet the new CEO and get to know all the new senior leadership team. I’m also looking forward to seeing the clubs once again serving more kids and the sports programs opening up again as we beat COVID. I am also looking forward to in-person board meetings.