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.