About
History
It all started in 1860, when three women in Hartford, CT decided to take in some young boys that were roaming the streets; the forgotten youth of the Industrial Revolution. These caring ladies planted the seeds of what would eventually become The Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Today, their grassroots efforts have blossomed into a network of over 4,000 Clubs, including The Boys & Girls Club of Lenawee.
It was with strong community support that The Boys & Girls Club of Lenawee (BGCL) opened its doors in Adrian in January 2001. Since that time, the BGCL has provided a safe place for youth. We have seen exponential growth—requiring progressive, structural change. In 2001, the Club began in a tiny woodshop at Drager Middle School, with only 100 members. In a short time, we outgrew this space and relocated our program to the Adrian Piotter Center. This facility served as our home for 4 years. With membership continuing to grow, the Club needed a even larger facility to call its “forever home.”
After researching the possibilities, the Board of Directors undertook a $1 Million capital campaign and collaborated with Adrian Public Schools (APS) to convert an unusable middle school pool into a new, dedicated and secure facility for the Club. The new Clubhouse was dedicated on January 3, 2011.
Our membership has continued to grow. Over 1,700 members, in Adrian and at our Hudson Extension Club, look to the Club to meet their need for supportive relationships and FUN. Our staff mentors provide consistent guidance and implement dynamic programs. Together we are enabling youth to reach our organization’s three Priority Outcomes: to achieve academic success, live healthy lifestyles, and develop into leaders of strong character.
Leadership
Sara Bingham Herriman
Chief Executive Officer
Sara has made Lenawee County her home since 2003. She is a graduate of Central Michigan University and earned her MBA, specializing in Leadership, at Spring Arbor University. Sara has spent most of her professional career in the world of nonprofit philanthropy. In 2015, Sara earned her Certified Fundraising Executive designation.
Email Sara
After serving as a Board Member for several years, Sara joined the BGCL staff in 2018 as the Director of Development and Community Relations. She was named Chief Executive Officer in the fall of 2024. Sara looks forward to sharing the club's story with our community and welcoming community members into the club to learn more about our important work.
Madison Rector
Director of Club Operations
Maddie moved to Lenawee County in 2016. During her time at Adrian College, she competed on the Varsity Figure Skating teams while earning her Bachelor’s degree focusing on Education, Mathematics & Psychology. She is currently studying Positive Youth Development at the graduate level. Maddie previously served as our Hudson Club Coordinator and Programming Director. She looks forward to continuing to develop Club relationships throughout the community while working with youth and families at our Hudson & Adrian Club sites.
Email Madison
Board of Directors
Laura Bell
President
Jenny Engle
Board Member
Susan Steele
Board Member
Chad Fox
Board Member
Chris Carter
Board Member
Vanessa Gomez
Board Member
Delight Creech
Emeritus
Jennifer Hunter
Vice President
Jim Berryman
Board Member
Dan Pena
Board Member
Dustin Krasny
Board Member
Frank Nagle
Board Member
Clay Kiefaber
Emeritus
Mike Kapnick
Emeritus
Mark Baker
Secretary
Jennifer Bruggeman
Board Member
Sam Lofton
Board Member
Nicole Underwood
Board Member
Marycelia Villegas
Board Member
Karol Bolton
Emeritus
Bradley Watson
Emeritus
Ben Creech
Treasurer
Michael Osborne
Board Member
Preston Pelham
Board Member
Dionne Bowens
Board Member
Chuck Force
Board Member
Stephen L. Hickman
Emeritus
