Both recognized for outstanding contributions and leadership
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston’s (BGCGH) president and CEO, Kevin Hattery, and vice president of development, Susy Smith, are the recipients of prestigious awards at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s (BGCA) Virtual Combined Leadership Conference held this week. The conference convened leaders of Boys & Girls Clubs across the country who were recognized for outstanding contributions and leadership, locally and regionally, by BGCA. Hattery was chosen by past winners, while Smith went through a nomination process.
Hattery received the Jim Wetherington Southwesterner Award, in memory of Jim Wetherington, a caring and committed leader who grew up in a Club and devoted 37 years to the Boys & Girls Clubs cause in Little Rock, Ark. Joining BGCGH in 2013, Hattery has led the nonprofit in achieving many milestones, including serving some 26,000 youths across five counties. Smith was recognized with the Southwest Region Outstanding Resource Development Professional Award for her accomplishments in leading the organization’s development efforts.
“Boys & Girls Clubs of America is honored to recognize two outstanding Club leaders at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, president & CEO, Kevin Hattery, and vice president of development Susy Smith,” said Jim Clark, president & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “These innovative leaders have set a standard for excellence through their visionary thinking and state-of-the-art programming, reaching some 26,000 kids and teens across five counties in Texas. Kevin and Susy’s work, along with that of their team, has positively impacted the lives of countless Club members by offering a safe environment with caring mentors, preparing them for success academically, personally and professionally.”
For the Wetherington award, Hattery had to meet stringent criteria as a CEO. These included:
- Exemplifying the highest standards of a Boys & Girls Clubs staffer
- Giving 100 percent in service to the development of Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Southwestern region
- Demonstrating unusual initiative, imagination and creativeness in the interest of the local Boys & Girls Club and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Movement.
As winner of the Outstanding Resource Development Professional Award, Smith was lauded for providing strategy, direction and oversight in all development areas, including donor engagement, major gifts, annual fund, marketing and communications, and special events, to reach the organization’s fundraising goals. One highlight of fiscal year 2020 was securing $1,518,705 in COVID relief funding from 35 donors. In addition to fundraising accomplishments, Smith Is playing a key role in stewarding a relationship with Toyota to develop and implement workforce readiness programming among area Clubs.
To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, please visit www.bgcgh.org.
Photo Caption: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston’s President and CEO, Kevin Hattery, and Vice President of Development, Susy Smith, both received prestigious awards at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Virtual Combined Leadership Conference. Photos by Henrich Perez.