Editor’s Note: This is the fourth installment in a series of articles focused on the partner agencies and programs that are served by the United Way in Montgomery County.
Having recently celebrated 70 years of serving local youth, the Boys and Girls Club of Montgomery County is undergoing rapid change. Located off Whitlock Ave. on the north side of Crawfordsville, the Club offers a range of programs and activities year-round. In 2025, around 1,500 community youth were Club members as part of its after-school and summer kidstop programs. On average, this amounts to 120 kids per day.
“We’re always keeping up with the needs of today’s youth,” said Gina Haile, the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Montgomery County. “We have four key pillars that we focus on: academic success, character and leadership development, healthy lifestyles, as well as life and workforce development. We don’t stay with a one package deal; we are always changing and evolving with modern needs.”
Haile has been involved in the non-profit sector since graduating high school. One of her first jobs was at a summer ministry in Camden, New Jersey, where she helped run a day camp, as well as its youth programs in the afternoon and evening. Mentoring youth became a passion from day one, having continued to work there every summer during her college years. She remained in Camden for 15 years after graduating college, where she helped build a Christian youth development organization called UrbanPromise.
“At one point, I decided to return to my roots in Lafayette and got involved with Purdue academia,” Haile said. “I explored more of the grant side of things, which led me to MUFFY and helping it transition into the United Way in Montgomery County. During my time as its executive director, I honed connections with both the non-profit and corporate sides of our community. When the opportunity with the Club came up, it was like a full circle moment where I was brought back into my passion for youth development.”
Joining the conversation was Brayden Tippett, who is the current unit director for the Boys and Girls Club. He began his career with the Club as a freshman through Wabash College’s WISE work-study program, where he mentored youth in grades kindergarten and first grade. During his sophomore year, he received a message from his predecessor.
“They asked me if I wanted to come on and help with more opportunities through the club,” Tippett said. “I was hired as a youth development professional, where I helped out with basketball leagues, soccer camps, and the computer lab. After I graduated in May this year, Haile offered me the role of unit director, where I oversee staffing, programs, reports, and rentals.”
The Club’s after-school program features special activities, lifestyle skills development, sports, homework assistance, and games. Snacks are provided daily. The summer kidstop program focuses on outdoor education, where members get to go on field trips; engage with activities in a classroom-style setting; and celebrate the end of summer with a pop-up pool and pizza party. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are provided daily. The Club’s Teen program has members go on field trips to places such as Turkey Run State Park and Slick City Action Park. They also immerse in projects prepared by community partners like Hoosier Heartland State Bank, 4-H Extension, the Crawfordsville District Public Library and Nucor Steel.
“Any way that we can partner with local organizations and the business community where representatives come in and share their expertise with our members is something I envision bringing more of,” Haile said. “It gives opportunities on both sides: community members show up to share their skills, meanwhile, our youth members have their worlds expand and learn potential career paths. We are always looking for different ways to bring this level of interaction into our programs.”
The Club itself has a variety of amenities available to its members. Perhaps its most notable feature is the gym, where sporting activities are held daily across its four basketball courts. Classroom spaces are divided depending on grade level, offering close connections between peers and teachers. There’s also a teen area, a kitchen, and a multipurpose room. Outside is a playground, a shelter house, and sprawling soccer fields. Transportation options are available for the three county school districts, ensuring members an easy access route to the Club after school, and for going on field trips.
“We are very blessed to have the facilities that allow us to support the programs we offer,” Haile said. “We’re actually in the process of possibly doing a kitchen remodel to open up more space for future activities. It’s still in the development and planning stage, but we’re always looking for more ways to use the property to our advantage.”
Despite current economic hardships, the Club maintains affordability as a top priority. Right now, program fees are $25 per week for one child in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. Scholarships and financial assistance options are available to allow services to the underprivileged.
“We don’t take it likely if we have to raise fees, but we also never let them be an obstacle for youth,” Haile said. “Community sponsorships of events and grants help us keep rates as affordable as possible. We understand that these times are troubling, so we try to be sensitive to families who can’t stretch that dollar.”
With the Boys and Girls Club being a non-profit, a large portion of funding is sourced from local businesses, individuals, and grants. Each dollar donated goes towards staff, programs, and covering utility bills.
“I’d say an expense that often goes unnoticed is the retention of our amazing staff,” Haile said. “What happens here at the Club is because we have good people. People will forget about the art activity they did 10 years ago, but they will never forget the art teacher who organized that fun activity for them.”
“Our staff are definitely wonderful here,” Tippett said. “They are very genuine with the kids, and are always willing to help with outside events.”
The Boys and Girls Club is a partner agency of the United Way in Montgomery County, where funds support the Club’s daily operations. Some necessities include staff wages, classroom and cleaning supplies, as well as funding for youth sports programs.
“That’s the beauty of the United Way,” Haile said. “It allows us to keep that art teacher; it allows us to continue running those programs; and it allows us to continue serving our mission to Montgomery County’s youth. The backbone of our operation is the people.”
The United Way in Montgomery County has given the Boys and Girls Club $50,000 in 2025. It helped fund both the after-school and summer programs.
“It is not an exaggeration to say that without the United Way, I’m not sure how every bill would get paid,” Haile said. “Giving to the United Way ensures that there is an after-school and summer program for the 120 youth who come to us every day. It’s not just for childcare; it’s also for our working adults to know that their child is being cared for in a safe and nurturing environment.”
“We rely heavily on this funding,” Tippett said. “It is a direct reflection on the impact that we make here on our members and on the community at large.”
The United Way in Montgomery County is raising $320,000 in 2026 to help local non-profits like the Boys and Girls Club to continue providing their services. Learn more about their impacts by visiting www.uwlafayette.org/montgomery.
To learn more about the Boys and Girls Club of Montgomery County and their programs, visit www.bgcmoco.org. They are also available by phone at 765-362-8912. Qualified bus drivers are needed at this time.
Kurtis Broadstreet is the 2026 campaign chair for the United Way in Montgomery County.
