Winters named new Olivet Boys & Girls Club CEO
The Olivet Boys and Girls Club announced that its board of directors has appointed Christopher Winters as CEO for the organization.
Winters, who has worked for 21 years in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, most recently as a legislative chief of staff, will oversee operations at all 11 sites, one of which is the Ricketts Community Center in Pottstown.
Winters is a Reading native and a longtime resident of Berks County.
He graduated from Alvernia University and served in the U.S. Navy. Winters has significant tenure in non-profit management and governance, having served on over a dozen non-profit boards and committees over the past 20 years.
Winters replaces interim CEO, Angel Helm of Wyomissing, who led the organization for the past five months.
“Ms. Helm has provided leadership, financial and personnel stability and a genuine sense of caring to our organization,” said Gary Redner, Chairman of the Olivet Board. “We simply cannot thank her enough for the time, wisdom and expertise she has given to the staff, board and most importantly, the children we serve.”
A committee comprised of board members and community partners conducted an extensive search of potential candidates from Berks County over the past five months.
“Our search process was highly competitive and revealed the high caliber of non-profit professionals in our community,” said Rachel Kuhn, search committee chairperson. “Mr. Winters was unanimously appointed by our board to this position, and we look forward to the energy, expertise and enthusiasm he will bring to our organization.”
“I am excited to begin working for the future of the Olivet organization and collaborating with our team to inspire hope and ignite a bright future for the children of Olivet and the Greater Reading community,” Winters said.
Winters begins his tenure on the heels of the inaugural Leaders and Legends dinner to benefit Olivet Boys and Girls Club held on May 16, 2019.
The event featured former Eagles tight end Brent Celek and alumni speaker, Rick Perez. Paul Rosa was honored as the 2019 Champion of Youth, and Penske was recognized as the Partner for Great Futures. The event raised over $450,000 to support youth programs at Olivet, most specifically summer camp and summer learning activities.
Winter takes the helm at Olivet
as Pottstown Borough Council is considering a renewal of the five-year lease on the Ricketts Community Center, which Olivet has operated for the last 10 years.
Another non-profit organization, the STRIVE Initiative, is also seeking the contract to run the center on Beech Street in Pottstown.
Ricketts is one of 11 club locations operated by Olivet and the only one in Montgomery County.
Monday night, Pottstown Borough Council voted unanimously to send an amended contract to Olivet, but the vote is not a decision on who will run the center, said Borough Council President Dan Weand.
Rather, it is council’s only opportunity to make changes to the contract under its current terms, explained Borough Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr.
Also Monday night, Jonathan Corson told borough council they should require the two organizations to work together instead of competing with one another.
If not, council should award the contract to neither and “take it back,” and run it out of the Parks and Recreation Department, as occurs in most other municipalities and as used to be done there, he said.
Corson charged that both the borough and school district have “washed their hands” of being concerned about the center.
Another speaker, Elaine Waltmate, said she volunteers at Ricketts teaching American sign language and urged council to keep Olivet in charge.