Board member Mike Shydlowski gives his all to the Boys & Girls Clubs

PILLAR SPECIAL AWARD – NONPROFIT BOARD EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Mike Shydlowski
Board member
Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland
www.clevekids.org

When Mike Shydlowski is on your board, you know you’ll always have at least one volunteer for whatever needs to be done. Just ask his peers on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland.

Shydlowski has been on the nonprofit’s board for more than 14 years and has played an integral part in developing the organization’s strategic direction, as well as a $16.5 million campaign to expand current services, fund significant growth and grow its endowment.

Shydlowski serves as internal gifts chairman on the board, meaning he’s tasked with asking board members for financial support for the campaign. It’s not an easy task and requires significant follow-up to get each board member to make a gift to the campaign. The Boys & Girls Clubs board was skeptical, but Shydlowski helped raise more than $3.4 million from 58 board members.

The funding enabled the clubs to increase operating hours from 20 to 29 hours a week, including Saturdays. They were also able to hire resources for art and athletic programs and increase daily attendance from 550 to 700 in just a year and a half.

Let’s get back to Shydlowski’s penchant for participation though. Shydlowski is always the first to volunteer for Member of the Month dinners and holiday parties, plus he attends nearly every board meeting. And when visiting kids need a hotel room or a staff member needs anything at all, Shydlowski can always be counted on to help. ●