A Network of Support

At first glance, Alex Williamson could be mistaken for the older brother of any one of the children who come to the Boys & Girls Club of Massillon, rather than the 31-year-old CEO of an organization that has served the Stark County community since 1936.

But despite his age, he’s no stranger to the Massillon nonprofit. Alex had come there after graduating from Mount Union with a middle childhood education degree and the realization that, while he wanted to work with children, he didn’t want to do so as a teacher.

“It was a light bulb moment,” he recalls, but one that unfortunately didn’t come with a job offer. It wasn’t until his uncle suggested that he should try the Boys & Girls Club (BGC) of Massillon that he found his calling.

“I came, I interviewed and I fell in love with the place: what they believed in and what they wanted to do with kids,” he recalls. He joined the organization in February 2018, and after holding a series of positions, was chosen in December 2024 to take over when the current CEO, Vincent E. Pedro, retired.

A Full Menu of Programs and Services

The Boys & Girls Club of Massillon is more than just a physical location where children and teens can hang out after school or during the summer. It offers a carefully designed menu of activities that meet the needs of its members physically and socially, all while adhering to the quality strategies and practices that promote the positive and healthy development of youth. The goal is to create a fun, safe and positive environment, offering members supportive relationships and recognition while meeting expectations and taking advantage of opportunities.

While many of the activities are typical of what one would find in any club for kids ranging from six to eighteen years old—sports, the arts and educational support—the Club also has strengthened and expanded services that specifically support mental health and social-emotional development by creating their own Mental & Behavioral Health Program.

“Each staff member at BGC Massillon completes training that enhances tools and resources directly associated with trauma informed care, suicide prevention and mental health first aid,” explains Alex. “Through partnerships with Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health, we have Qualified Mental Health Specialists now available to members every day.”

The program includes a sensory room that is available for all members when they are having trouble navigating regular programming.

“It gives them a place to step away from their peers in order to self-regulate and problem-solve,” he says. “Members who use this resource have access to fidgets, art supplies, flexible seating and different lighting. These tools allow them to shift their focus and understand their feelings while responding to them rationally.”

The Community Comes Together

All of this takes place in the new Club facility that opened January 3, 2024. At 29,386 square feet, the building increased the program space by about 25% compared to the old 24,000 square-foot building. Inside the structure are two full-sized regulation basketball/volleyball courts, the Andre "Reeding" Room, Exergame Digital Fitness Center and eight classroom spaces. There is also a full-service kitchen and cafeteria, enabling the Club to provide a dinner and snack as part of the after-school program, and breakfast, lunch and snack for the summer program.

The transition from the old building to the new was achieved with having to only close the operation to members for one day. But perhaps an even greater feat was that the construction was accomplished without the need for financing, thanks to donations from businesses and organizations—a testament to the value the community sees in the nonprofit.

“The Paul & Carol David Foundation supported the majority of the project,” Alex says, “Other large contributors were The Timken Foundation, MCTV, Bob & Nancy Gessner, Stark Community Foundation, The Hoover Foundation, Health Foundation of Greater Massillon and the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton.”

Although the building is completed, there are still items on the wish list for the project, he says. “We’d like to add an additional sidewalk and fencing, a basketball court and a sensory walk. These features would expand the overall program space and serve even more youth.”

It Takes a Village

Another of Alex’s goals is to establish greater interaction with both parents and the 13 school districts across Stark County that the Club serves.

“We talk about how it takes a village to raise children, and it does,” he says. “And when I look at it from the viewpoint of the kids, they go to a school where there are certain expectations, then they go home and there are different expectations. And when they come here, we have our expectations. I’d like us to find common ground so we can all give the same expectations to the kids.”

There is also a need for more volunteers to help support the 11 full-time and 21 part-time staff members, not only from the community but also from parents and those he calls “alumni”: people who had come to the Club as children and now come back as adults. More help and more dollars—which is why the organization has several fundraisers throughout the year to supplement federal and state grants as well as the donations from foundations and trusts.

Farmers Supports the Mission

When it comes to finances, having a solid banking relationship can make all the difference. Fortunately, Alex has that, thanks to the longstanding relationship the Club has had with Farmers National Bank. The bank provides the Club with depository and treasury management services and, Alex adds, “they have also been a supporter of the Club for decades through volunteerism and as a donor for our events.”

Kathy Shultz, AVP, Branch Manager III, is personally involved with the organization, serving as a board member and volunteer.

As Kathy puts it, “It’s not just a place to go and play sports and hang out. The Club actually shapes and molds lives and has made it such a safe and affirming place to be. It provides both group and individual activities that assist youth to develop their leadership and character decision making skills. This, in turn, helps members become positive role models. Being caring and responsible to each other has a powerful impact in the community as well. These values and core beliefs of the club, align well with the beliefs and values of Farmers National Bank.”

Building Experiences

For Alex, it all comes down to the children and what the Boys and Girls Club of Massillon can do for them, while recognizing that “when you’re working with kids, the impact isn’t immediate. You won’t see it until later down the line.”

But while the results aren’t instantly apparent, that doesn’t dissuade Alex and his team. “We're mentors. We want to build experiences and create opportunities and be another piece of their network of support.”