During Baker Youth Club’s annual awards dinner and auction Monday, Executive Director Tracy Furnivall made the announcement that Baker Youth Club will form a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Kosciusko County. The move will mean that the Boys and Girls Club, 800 N. Park Ave., Warsaw, closed since March when its unit manager Cindy Knepper resigned, will remain closed. Four members of the Boys and Girls Club of America board of directors will join the Baker Youth Club board of directors while others may join Baker’s advisory committee. Furnivall said that he has been working with Kosciusko Area Bus Service to provide transportation from the Park Avenue location to the Baker Youth Club’s Market Street center in Warsaw. “We’re really excited about this opportunity,” said Furnivall during the awards dinner. “We’re really excited about this partnership. I think this has been a long time coming.” Baker Youth Club, open since 1926, will continue to look to expand its role in Kosciusko County with the consolidation. Using existing facilities in towns, Furnivall said the five-year plan for Baker Youth Club is to expand services in Claypool, North Webster, Syracuse and Pierceton. Furnivall said Baker Youth Club’s five-year plan is to have facilities in the county open four to five days a week. Furnivall said that since September, 8,300 kids have come through the doors of Baker Youth Club. On average, the club serves about 58 kids a night. Since September, they have served 4,420 meals and 3,571 snacks. Furnivall also lauded the club’s homework program. “Being a member of the United Way of Kosciusko County, we want to try and fulfill the mission statement of reaching whole county,” said Furnivall. Former Boys and Girls Club board members Letrecia Harrell, Tabitha Williamson, Kris Williamson and Matt Niemier will join the Baker Youth Club board to form a 19-person board. “We’re moving forward for the benefit of the community,” said Furnivall. “The main goal is to serve kids in Kosciusko County.” The Park Avenue location, which housed the Boys and Girls’ Club Pete Thorn Center, will still be home to the Council on Aging’s senior center. Warsaw Parks Department Superintendent Jon Garber said the park board will have to decide what to do with the space as well as the club’s lease. Garber said he was informed last week by Harrell of the move. Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins said he’s fine with the move and has faith that the community will continue to be served. “As long as the youth of the community are served, I’m confident there will be programs available to the youth,” said Wiggins. “I have the utmost confidence in the Baker Youth Club.” The Baker Youth Club formerly shared the Park Avenue location with the Boys and Girls Club before its moving into its own building. Furnivall said the move has been in the works for about eight weeks. The move will mean a total break from the Boys and Girls Club of America. Boys and Girls Club of America dictates that any facility affiliated with them carry the Boys and Girls Club moniker. Furnivall said that Baker Youth Club’s name recognition is such that a name change wouldn’t make sense.
