The 30,000-square-foot, $6.9 million club located in Olde West Chester on Cincinnati-Dayton Road, just south of the Interstate 75 interchange, is the most modern in southwest Ohio, having opened in 2018.
Average daily attendance from area students after school on weekdays is about 150, but officials with the club want to eventually double that.
Kozma recently answered five questions from the Journal-News:
1. Why did you go after the job?
“What attracted me to this role was the opportunity to be part of an organization, in the community that I live in, that has such an impact on the workforce of tomorrow and supports the families and kids who need it most.
Our community is truly blessed that key community leaders and investors had the foresight to recognize the growing need for a Boys & Girls Club in West Chester/Liberty and then successfully raise the funds needed to build this amazing facility. The foundation of the club is strong and I am excited to grow our reach and ensure our sustainability for the future.”
2. What’s at the top of your to do list?
“To share our story and mission more broadly through building relationships across our community that will inspire others to join our efforts and invest in us. Not only is it important that we grow our operating fund support though a strong base of corporate and individual donors, but that we welcome the community as volunteers and mentors for our members through a strong volunteer program. The Boys & Girls Club is committed to developing strong leaders and youth prepared for great futures right here in our community and it takes all of us do that.”
3. What’s the biggest feature of a club that the general public still doesn’t know about or understand?
“Our professional and passionate staff is the most important part of our club. They are the heart of our programs and bring our mission to life each and every day. They create a safe, structured and fun environment. While we are an out-of-school program, the hours spent here add up to a lifetime of impact.”
4. What’s coming up for the club in the near future?
"We just launched our summer program registration online at www.bgcwcl.org . Our programming team has worked very hard to plan a fun and educational summer with themes like "Make a Masterpiece" with focus on creativity through many mediums, "Get Active" through fitness and sports, teaching "Special Skills" like dance and story-telling as well as "Discover New Worlds" centered around STEM."
5. What’s coming up long range future?
“Our goal is to reach our membership and service capacity by welcoming over 300 youth through these doors daily. To do that, we will grow responsibly as revenue allows and continue to look at ways to establish innovative partnerships that position us to best meet the needs of the kids and families in our community.”
About the Author