At BGCAA, Women’s History Month is a special time, because it not only provides us with an opportunity to stop and recognize the amazing women throughout the organization who give their all to our mission and our youth, but it is also an opportunity to reflect on the roots and history of the Boys & Girls Clubs movement.
In fact, Boys & Girls Clubs of America was founded in 1860 by four women in Hartford, Connecticut – Mary Goodwin, Alice Goodwin, Elizabeth Hammersley, and Louisa Bushnell – who had a vision to provide a positive alternative for the local boys they saw passing time in the streets. By organizing the very first Boys & Girls Club, these women focused on providing youth with programming focused on character development and helping them to develop goals for their futures.
Without the efforts of these women, Boys & Girls Clubs would not exist!
At BGCAA, we are proud to continue this legacy of women’s leadership in our community, and we are pleased to introduce you to a few of the women who work tirelessly for the BGCAA mission here in Austin.
Cate Prescott, Immediate Past Board Chair
Cate Prescott is on a mission to create an authentic, inclusive, and kind community where everyone can be themselves and do their best work. Passionate about human development, Cate is the former Chief People Officer at National Instruments, and she is also the Immediate Past Chair of the BGC Austin Board.
At NI, Cate works to create a high-performance organization in a culture that empowers each employee to better themselves while they better the world. Throughout her service at BGC Austin, she has brought those same values to the team, tirelessly working to ensure BGC youth have the tools and support they need to build Great Futures in life.
Zenae Campbell, CEO
Zenae Campbell is a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs Movement and the first African American to serve as CEO of BGC Austin. She brings more than 20 years of experience to the team, including 10 years of service as the Vice President, Programs and Club Operations at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston.
“At BGCAA, our mission is to help youth build Great Futures by providing them with programs addressing academic success, healthy lifestyles, workforce development and more,” she said. “I am passionate about this work, because the future of our country and our world is dependent upon our present ability to nurture our youth of all backgrounds, so they can grow up to become happy, healthy members of society. Every young person deserves the chance to pursue their dreams.”
Stacey Heller, Board Member
Stacey Heller is a lifelong Austinite who is committed to giving back to the fabric of the community in which she grew up.
In addition to serving as the Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Internal Audit at American Campus Communities, the largest developer and manager of student housing communities in the United States, Stacey also has three young boys who inspire her to be part of the BGCAA movement.
“As a mother to 3 amazing sons, I know intimately that it takes a village to raise children,” she said. “The Boys and Girls club fills a critical need in the lives of our most impressionable members of society. I’m honored to be a member of an organization that passionately invests in the future leaders of our community.”