Joyce Ellenwood’s mission is clear: Raise the profile of the Boys and Girls Club in the Golden Triangle.
Ellenwood was recently named chief professional officer for the Boys and Girls Club of the Golden Triangle, which has branches in Starkville and Columbus.
While she’ll wear many hats and will float between both branches, her primary duty is fundraising.
Ellenwood, 35, is a New Jersey native who holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in psychology from Seton Hall University and James Madison University, respectively.
Ellenwood has taught third and fourth grade, and has served as an academic advisor at Bethune-Cookman University and Rutgers University.
Ellenwood’s husband, Garfield, is an assistant track and field coach at Mississippi State University. She has a 5-year-old son who attends Sudduth Elementary School in Starkville and an 18-year-old daughter who attends MSU.
You are CPO for the Boys and Girls Club of the Golden Triangle. Day to day, how do divide your time between each club?
Some of the same structure is replicated in each club. The staff is different, so they may implement things differently. I’ve been here two weeks, so I’m between both clubs here (Starkville) and in Columbus. I’m working to infuse myself in both communities. I have to get to know our members, parents, and then our partnerships. During club hours, I’m in classrooms and outside with kids. Prior to club hours, I’m on the phone making phone calls to partners and introducing myself and just seeing where things may need to be addressed.
What interested you most about this job?
When I first saw the post, just knowing the history of the Boys and Girls Club and it being a staple in communities, that was my initial draw. With my education and experience, I thought I’d be a great fit. It was a chance to bridge all of my skills, and I think that’s what’s needed in this position.
What has the first week or so involved for you? Has it been a whirlwind?
I’m always looking for that learning aspect. I’m in a comfort zone when there’s something I can learn. With this position, there’s a lot to learn. So I don’t think it’s a whirlwind. I’m high energy and very motivated, so for me it’s a part of the day.
When you and (Boys and Girls Club President) Roy Ruby talked, were there any specific goals or benchmarks he said he wanted you to reach?
The first board meeting is coming up next week (Oct. 6), so I’m sure I’ll get a better idea then. But talking with him, I wasn’t given a percentage or deadline. I was just given the impression that we want to raise the profile of both clubs.
What are you expecting of that board meeting?
I’m expecting to listen to them all. I’ll lean on their expertise in terms of what they know to give me direction.
I know Roy’s goal in hiring you was to increase donorship. What challenges do you face in fundraising and increasing support?
That’s something everybody has told me. It’s a very competitive market right now. There are many programs addressing the same needs, so you have so many organizations going after same resources. It’s a challenge, but the history of the Boys and Girls Club, the programming we have and the population we serve, I hope to continue to make it attractive to people who trust the organization.
What’s the current state of the Boys and Girls clubs? Do you feel your services and programs offered reflect the number of kids in each county?
Two weeks in now, I definitely can say that we can look forward to making some innovative progress going forward. The perception, in terms of what people think we have right now, is different from what we really are. That’ll be a key of our campaign, giving it a new look and connecting with our communities.
Did you frequent a Boys and Girls Club when you were a child? If so, what memories stand out to you about those times?
I didn’t as a child, but while I was an undergrad at Seton Hall, I volunteered at one. The summer after I graduated, I was offered a science teacher position in a Boys and Girls Club as part of a summer enrichment program. It was the summer before I attended grad school, and it was an awesome transition. Prior to that, the only interaction I had was through volunteering.
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