Boys & Girls of Gordon, Murray, & Whitfield Counties

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The local Boys and Girls Clubs can trace their history back to before World War II; however, the club dissolved due to the international conflict.

In 1995, Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health released the results of a community study on drugs and alcohol. The results were alarming. Soon thereafter, The Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership, United Way, Target Tomorrow/Chamber of Commerce, Carl Rollins, and the Dalton Rotary Club identified the need for a youth center for kids.

In 2000, a core group of leaders merged their visions into one coordinated effort. This effort soon produced the Board of Directors of the Dalton/Whitfield Count Unit and the appropriate coordinating staff was employed. The official club opened on June 10, 2002 with 190 charter members. That fall, the club moved operations to the Fort Hill School Building.

In 2002, the Boys and Girls Clubs and local individuals saw the same needs in Gordon County. Soon thereafter, with help from an OJP grant initiative, the Boys and Girls Club of Gordon County was created. The very first site was hosted by HUD Housing for ages 6 through 12. Soon after the first unit was established, the need to serve local teens arose. With the cooperation of the Parks and Recreation Department, a second unit was established in Sonoraville to serve younger children while the HUD-supported unit became the “Imagination Station”, a center serving teens.

Likewise, in 2007, the BGC saw another community in need. A cooperative venture involving Gladden Middle School, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dalton, and the Office of Justice Programs founded the first Boys and Girls Club in Murray County. The new site, funded in participation by OJP grants, program fees, and the Department of Human Resources was established on the property of Gladden Middle School.

In 2007, the need arose for more localized management and implementation of donor dollars. In October the five units in the Dalton, Chatsworth, and Calhoun areas were formally merged to form the Boys & Girls of Gordon, Murray, & Whitfield Counties.

Executive Staff and Directors_ _________

Robbie Slocumb- Chief Professional Officer

J. Adam Lowe- Director of Development

Adam joined the BGCGMW in October 0f 2007 after 2 years in Virginia as a Political Director for a congressional campaign. He has worked with the Boys and Girls Club as an education director and with various other agencies in juvenile counseling. Adam is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and is originally from Asheville, NC. He has a Bachelors in Psychology/ Human Development and has completed a Masters in Public Administration. alowe@bgcgmw.org

Melissa Sparks- Administrative Corporate Assistant

A Melissa is originally from Calhoun, GA and joined the BGCGMW in 2004 as a membership clerk. She now works as the Corporate Administrative Assistant and possess an Associates Degree. She is currently working toward the completion of her Bachelors program. msparks@bgcgmw.org

Tasha Allen- Special Initiatives Coordinator

Tasha began as program staff with the BGCGMW in June 2006 before becoming the special initiatives coordinator. She spent 6 years with the Air Force Reserve as a computer operator and is currently completing a Bachelors in Network Communication Management. tallen@bgcgmw.org

Hank Hill- Calhoun Area Director

Hank joined the BGCGMW in April of 2006 after spending 7 years with the BGC in Alabama. He is originally from Jasper, AL and graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Bachelors in Secondary Education. He is a member of the BGC Professional Association and serves as the President for the Gordon County Family Connections Board of Directors. hhill@bgcgmw.org

Diane Whitt-Murray County Unit Director

Diane began working with the BGCGMW in May of 2007 as the Murray County Unit Director. Prior to joining the BGCGMW she worked with the Whitfield County Department of Family and Children Services. She is a Dalton native and brings 22 years of experience to her role. She has a Bachelors in Social Work. dwhitt@bgcgmw.org

Russ Barker- Carl Rollins Unit Director

Russ began with the BGCGMW in December of 2007. He is originally from Wilson, NC where he began working with the BGCA in 1996. He served the BGC of Cleveland, TN from 1997 to 2007 in many capacities concluding with a position as the unit director of a club-to-college program. He is a member of the BGCA Academy of Professionals and an Emerging Leader for the Dalton Chamber of Commerce. Russ is also a BGCA National Trainer and has a Bachelors degree in Christian Education. rbarker@bgcgmw.org

Tony Causby- Dalton Teen Director

Tony joined the BGCGMW in December of 2005 as a program staff and became the Dalton Teen Director in February of 2007. Tony has 4+ years of experience working with youth and is a Murray County native. He is a graduate of the BGCA Learning Club and is working on a Bachelors in Business Administration. tcausby@bgcgmw.org

Scorpio Denmon- Calhoun Teen Director

Scorpio began with the Boys and Girls Clubs in March of 2004. He previously worked with the Calhoun Recreation Department for 10 years and was a 2006 Emerging Leader for the Calhoun Chamber of Commerce. He attended West Georgia College and Dalton College, receiving his Bachelors in Business Management. Scorpio also serves as the President of the Coosa Valley Technology Board and is a Calhoun, GA native. sdenmon@bgcgmw.org

Who We Serve...

Our locations serve over 400 members of various socioeconomic backgrounds. Our members are 13% Latino, 49% Caucasian, 25% African American, and 13% other. Approximately 60% of our members are male, 40% female.

Our Impact...

- Club member drop out rate is 1.3%, compared to the county averages of approximately 18%.

- In one year, the average GPA of club members increased from 3.12 to 3.57, an increase of 14.4%.

- In an assessment test of knowledge of drugs and alcohol, club members scored and average 55% upon enrollment. Upon completion of the SMART Moves program, club members averaged 84% correct.

- Many of our members report that the club is a great place to learn, meet friends, and get help with school work and character growth.

*The above are summaries and unaudited statements and should only be used for general informational purposes. For official reports, please contact the administrative offices.