“Why would anyone name a building after me?”
said Steve Kelley to Bob Ansin.
“Because you deserve it!” That was Ansin’s short answer.
On an emotional evening, January 21, 2006, Robert D. Ansin,
MassInnovation, LLC founder and President/CEO made the
announcement that his family would donate $2 million dollars
toward the construction of the new Lawrence Boys and Girls Club.
In a combined effort, Bob Ansin will donate $1 million and his
father, Ronald will match it with another $1 million.
At the time of the donation, the largest ever received by the
LBGC in their 115 year successful history, the Ansin family didn’t
know that they will have the responsibility of naming the new
building. “When Dad and I agreed to make our joint gift, we had no
idea that we’d be given the honor of naming this magnificent, new
facility”, said Bob Ansin.
When Bob Ansin made the announcement that the new facility would
be named after the Club’s “Chief Angel” Steven Kelley, the 400
plus crowd gave both Kelley and Ansin an endless standing ovation.
Bob Ansin arrived at his decision, after asking himself, over and
over again, who was the one who really represents the true essence
and spirit of the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club.
“A dream comes true,” said Lawrence Mayor Michael J. Sullivan. ”A
few short years ago the club was in jeopardy of closing its
doors. To go from where they were in 2003 to now being part of an
incredible capital improvement plan which raised over eight
million dollars is just another success story by the Boys and
Girls Club. I once again thank all of the donors, the volunteers
and of course congratulations to Steve Kelley whom the new
building will rightfully be named after.”
“This place is Economic Development”, said Bob Ansin. “The
Lawrence Boys and Girls Club is doing more for the economic
development of the city than anybody else.” Ansin expressed his
thoughts at the end of the night, about the way the LBGC had
formed leaders like Noelia Bare, Jennifer Brenes, Sócrates De La
Cruz, Rahdames Nova, Raymond Nunez, just to mention a few. “These
people come back to give to the community,” said the younger
Ansin.
***** **
Among the remarkable things Stephen J. Kelley has done at the Boys
and Girls Club is sheltering members. He never questioned the
family situation or blamed anyone; his only concern was giving
those children an opportunity to grow up in a safe environment.
As a result, many of them went to live with him and his family
for years at a time.
Felipe and Ramon Romero
Today, Felipe Romero is 34 years old and works as a probation
officer in Lawrence but, no one ever thought that he would have
ended up there.
When their parents divorced, Felipe was 9 years old and his
brother Ramon was just 8. Their mother moved to Puerto Rico and
they ended up going to live with Stephen and his sister until the
brothers were able to go back to live with their father.
The Boys and Girls Club continued being a refuge and what they
still consider their real home. Through Kelley’s efforts, both
boys attended Central Catholic High School on a full scholarship.
Ramón is a graduate of UMass/Amherst and Felipe attended Worcester
State College where he acquired his bachelor’s degree. He later
received his Masters of Science in Criminal Justice from Fitchburg
State College.
“Kelley paved the way for us to be what we have become,” said
Felipe.
Raymond and Carlos Núñez
Most people remember Raymond Núñez, from the Boys and Girls Club
because he was National Youth of the Year in 2001. What people
don’t know is how he got there.
The family disintegrated when the boys were teenagers. Manny, who
was a Lawrence High School basketball star, went to live with a
cousin. A sister went to live with her boyfriend and another
brother moved to New Jersey with other relatives.
Raymond and Carlos moved in with Stephen Kelley less than a week
after his wedding to Sonya Kelley. Carlos was an F student with
language skills in neither English nor Spanish.
The Kelleys never showed concern for family matters and
concentrated exclusively in their education. Both boys attended
Central Catholic and later on, Carlos received his bachelor’s
degree from Endicott College with a 3.5 GPA. He now works as a
social worker for the Department of Social Services.
Raymond went to Tufts University ending his bachelor’s degree with
a 4.0 GPA. He works full time as Athletic Director for the Boys &
Girls Club.
“This is our way of giving back for everything Kelley did for us,
by becoming social workers,” said Carlos pointing that most
members become social workers as a career of choice.
The Núñez brothers lived with Stephen and Sonya for eight years
until they graduated from college and were able to rent their own
apartment.
***** **
LBGC Honor Roll
Noelia Bare, Northeast Region 2004 Youth of the Year, now
an employee of MassInnovation.
Jennifer Brenes is the second Club member in the past two
years to be selected Massachusetts Youth of the Year.
Sócrates De La Cruz, a successful Lawrence attorney today,
was the first Youth of the Year in 1991.
Raymond Nunez, actual LBGC Athletic Director, was the
second member to win the national award in 2001.
Radhames Nova, LBCG Director of Development was the
national runner-up in 1993.
Alumni of the Lawrence Boys & Girls Club include the Mayor of
Lawrence, the President of Merrimack College, the Director of the
Lawrence Housing Authority and the CEO of Pebble Beach Golf
Resort.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America have nearly 4 million youth
members through 3,500 clubs across the country.
Lawrence is the only club in the country to have produced three
national finalists.
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