5/16/24 – On Wednesday, May 15, The Professional Association (TPA) awarded Boys & Girls Club of Manchester (BGCM) CEO Diane Fitzpatrick “Executive of the Year” at the National Conference in Atlanta. This prestigious award is presented to one executive annually who has made a significant impact on their Club and the movement.
Fitzpatrick has been committed to the well-being of children and children’s issues for more than 30 years. Her life’s work is “it’s all about the kids.” She began her career in early childhood education and eventually moved into higher education before landing as the CEO of BGCM in 2014.
“As an advocate for our kids, I love being a part of a team that continues to collaborate to support our schools, our nonprofit partners, our families, and our kids,” says Fitzpatrick.
During her tenure at BGCM, Fitzpatrick led the Club through a three-year, $6.2M capital campaign to expand services to Manchester’s youth by creating multiple new sections of the Union Street Clubhouse to accommodate more kids. This campaign also included various upgrades to the 22-acre Camp Foster campus in Bedford to ensure the safety and well-being of all campers and staff. She has added new programs such as the Tween Center, STEAM Lab, Fitness Room, and Zen Den to the Clubhouse. In addition, she has partnered with numerous community organizations to collaborate for the greater good of the city, children, and families who need support most. Through these collaborations, she implemented a way to increase school attendance and the educational progress of Club members. She has created a weekly Food Pantry to combat food insecurities for our families. During COVID, she kept the doors open to provide a safe place for families to send their children while schools were remote. These are only a handful of ways Fitzpatrick has positively impacted the Manchester community.
“BGCM Board of Directors is thrilled that out of thousands of CEOs and Executive Directors, our esteemed CEO, Diane Fitzpatrick, has been named the 2024 National Executive of the Year,” says Michael St. Onge, BGCM Board of Directors Chair. “This prestigious award is a testament to Diane’s unwavering dedication, as an exceptional leader, to the Club’s mission. Her commitment to creating a safe and supportive environment for the youth of our community is unmatched. We are thrilled to see her recognized on a national level for her outstanding leadership and service.”
Currently, Fitzpatrick, through BGCM, is part of a multi-organization project: Mark Stebbins Community Center on the West Side of Manchester. The goal of this development is to bring nonprofit services together under one roof, in one location, to serve the community.
“Diane’s passion for serving our children, her dedication to the community, and her executive skills set her apart,” says Harry Malone, President of the Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs in NH. “The board is proud to have her as our CEO and is honored to work alongside her.”
“This award means so much to me, especially being nominated by my peers,” says Fitzpatrick. “I am honored to work with so many incredible individuals – staff members, Board of Directors, community partners – who have dedicated their lives to making a difference in the lives of the children and families we serve. We do not do this alone; this is a collective effort.”
About Boys & Girls Club of Manchester
Stewards of a long and proud history, we do whatever it takes to deepen the impact of our work. The Boys & Girls Club of Manchester (BGCM) is one of the 53 founding organizations of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, established in 1907. Operating throughout 4 sites in Greater Manchester, there are no barriers to membership and no limits to what our kids can achieve. Learn more about BGCM at mbgcnh.org.
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In Photo: Boys & Girls Club of America President & CEO Jim Clark with Boys & Girls Club of Manchester CEO Diane Fitzpatrick, Executive of the Year Recipient
