New Faces for the New Year at the Boys & Girls Clubs

The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Redlands-Riverside has just brought together a new team to help advance the organizations impact in the community. “As part of our long-term strategy, the Club needed to build a team that will bring the Club to the next level,” explained P.T. McEwen, chief executive officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs. Jose Soto, marketing director, who has been with the Boys and Girls Clubs for 16 years, mostly in the greater Los Angeles area, has been selected to serve on the new team of individuals. Soto attended the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and worked in the arts field for over 16 years before a friend told him that the Boys and Girls Club needed an art director. He is in charge of social and print media and the Club’s website. “The impact that we have on the kids is probably the most rewarding part of working for the Boys and Girls Club,” Soto said. “I have worked with these kids on all levels and it is always the most rewarding thing. It’s not just adults impacting the kids, it’s the way that they impact us as well. All the dedication and time that we take to make things happen always ends up making it worth it. Everyone at the Boys and Girls Club has the same goal: to give opportunities to kids that we may not have had.” Eddie Hernandez is the new development director for special events and has been with the Boys and Girls Club for 15 years, serving his last three years as Site Director for the Hansberger Clubhouse in Redlands. Hernandez started at the Boys and Girls Club in Fullerton as the Athletics Director, moved up to Program Director, and ended as the Branch Director. Hernandez has been named Professional of the Year in the Boys and Girls Clubs in Orange County and continues to help out with more and more projects as time progresses. “In a few weeks we have our chocolate fantasy. It is our premier funraiser,” said Hernandez. “I am really excited to get that event out. I think for me this position is great because of the opportunity to coordinate these fundraisers throughout the year and use my creativity to see what I can provide for the kids and the program. I look forward to taking a lead in that.” Joy Juedes has been named the new Development Director for Grants and Campaigns. Joy comes from a background in local news publications, where she focused on local news and high-profile court cases. Juedes is excited to bring her command of the written word to help the kids we serve.” I’m sure I will be involved in so many different projects in the Boys and Girls Club,” Juedes said. “I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to work here. When I was working in the press, I covered so many of the different events for the club.” “We have built an amazing team that will help steward our donors, old and new, and share the message of the good works the Club does for kids every day,” said McEwen. [END] Eddie Hernandez, "In a few weeks we have our chocolate fantasy, it is our premier funraiser, im really excited to get that event out. I think for me this position is great because of the opportunity to coordinate these fundraisers throughout the year and use my creativity to see what i can provide for the kids and the program. I look forward to taking the lead in that." You can reach them at 909-798-4599: Joy is at ext. 207 Eddie is at ext. 206 Jose is at ext. 218 Interview: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside is beefing up our marketing and grants team for the New Year. Thanks to a capacity grant from the Weingart Foundation, the Club has the resources to build fundraising capacity. “As part of our long-term strategy, the Club needed to build a team that will bring the Club to the next level,” explained P.T. McEwen, chief executive officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs. The new faces are: Marketing Director, Jose Soto has been with the Boys & Girls Clubs for 16 years, mostly in the greater Los Angeles area. He attended the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and worked in the arts field for 16 years before a friend told him a Boys & Girls Club needed an art director. He “fell in love” with the Boys & Girls Club movement and started as an art director, moving up the ladder to programs and operations director. Jose began doing freelance graphic design work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside three years ago and was promoted to marketing director this month. He is in charge of social and print media and the Club’s website. Jose is excited to use his years of experience with both the Club and in the art world to promote the Club’s mission. “Jose brings a wealth of artistic talent and creativity to our Club and will put our kids’ needs at the forefront of our marketing strategies,” says McEwen. Eddie Hernandez is our new Development Director for Special Events. He has been with Boys & Girls Clubs for almost 15 years, the last three years serving as Site Director for the Hansberger Clubhouse in Redlands. He started his career at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fullerton as the Athletics Director, moved up to Program Director and ended as the Branch Director. In 2010, he was named Professional of the Year out of the Boys & Girls Clubs in Orange County. While serving as Site Director in Redlands, for the past three years Eddie helped with special events planning and day-of coordination. Two years ago when the Field of Dreams special event started, Eddie took on more duties that continued when the Club began holding the Mansion Masquerade. Club Vice President Mark Davis says Eddie now works for the kids instead of working with them. In addition to his new duties for the Club, Eddie is working on his master’s degree in management at the University of Redlands. New to Boys & Girls Clubs, but not new to writing is Joy Juedes, our new Development Director for Grants & Campaigns. Joy comes to us from City News Service, a Southern California news wire service, where her duties included covering local news and high-profile court cases. She has also written for the Redlands Daily Facts, San Bernardino Sun and Highland Community News. She is very familiar with Boys & Girls Clubs and our operations, and one of her favorite community events to cover while at the Facts was Chocolate. Joy is excited to bring her command of the written word to help the kids we serve. “We have built an amazing team that will help steward our donors, old and new, and share the message of the good works the Club does for kids every day,” said McEwen.