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Highlands Today

Man On A Mission

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

Wally Randall, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Highlands County, talks Thursday about the recent improvements to the clubs in Avon Park and Sebring.

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By MANDY SHEETS | Highlands Today

Published: January 25, 2008

AVON PARK — Wally Randall has a passion for the Boys and Girls Clubs that comes from someone who has a first-hand appreciation for its influence.

When he was a teenager, Randall's single mother dropped him off at the club's summer camp every morning.

"At the time, I didn't see the real impact, but now I see the path I could have gone down and where some of my friends ended up, and I really appreciate what a positive impact it had," said Randall, who is now the executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs in Highlands County.

Randall has big ideas for the future of the program, and that's why in his first eight weeks in the position he has made his top priorities networking and fundraising. He is trying to expand the donation base.

"If we have hundreds of people giving amounts they can afford, we have community support," Randall said. "That is what is going to make us grow - community support for a program that truly helps improve the community."

Woodraun Wright, area director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Highlands County, said the club helps disadvantaged children reach their potential through a variety of programs

"We try to help mold them into positive citizens," Wright said, describing the programs that range from math tutoring to saying no to drugs.

About 65 children per day spend their time after school at the Avon Park location and 50 per day at the Sebring location.

"Look over there," Randall said, pointing to an empty field, "That's what we used to have. We had nothing, and now we have this great place," he said, turning to the two portable buildings connected by a deck that sit in Memorial Field in Avon Park.

After school, the kids first go to the classroom portable for about an hour, where they work on their homework, get help from tutors, learn on the computers or read.

"We keep track of their grades with their report cards," Randall said. "We want them to know that school comes first."

When their schoolwork is finished, they go to the game room, where video games, board games, a foosball table and pool table await. That portable classroom opened recently and has been wildly popular with the kids, who otherwise would likely go home to empty houses.

"There is an obvious need for more facilities like this," Randall said. "If it works in Sebring and Avon Park, it can work in Lake Placid and Hardee County. Every time I speak in Lake Placid, they want to know when it is coming. We need to get on solid financial footing first."

Randall has several fundraising events planned for the upcoming months to help reach that goal. He even has plans for at least one event per month through May.

"The success of this program depends on the community giving to it," Randall said. "We want to let people know we are here and we will work for every dime they give us."

Even the children that receive scholarships to attend the program throughout the school year or to go to the summer camp work to earn the money.

"It's surprising the number of families that cannot afford the $10 per year fee," Wright said. "The kids do odd jobs around the club to earn the money."

Randall said community members can help the Boys and Girls Club by attending fundraising events, making monetary or equipment donations, sponsoring a child to attend the summer camp, or inviting him to speak to their business or organization about the club. The club also is looking for board members who can help with their fundraising and expansion efforts. Contact Randall at 453-0240.

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