PALM BEACH SOCIETY February 20-26, 2015 17

AskingWorthWALLY TURNER is...

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: CAPEHART

WALLY TURNERCELEBRATING A DECADE OF LEADERSHIP

WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS

CLUBS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY?

It is truly a vital organization. We operate 13 facilities in

some of the County’s most crime ridden and economically

challenged areas. We offer after-school academic, social,

cultural enrichment and outreach services to more than 7,000

members and their families each year. Many don’t realize that

a child can attend for $30 a year. Because our average family

earns less than $30,000 each year, we often waive even this

small fee. No child is turned away for inability to pay. We are

one of the few organizations that provide transportation from

the schools to after-school programs.

The Clubs provide kids snacks when they arrive and a

hot meal before they go home. In total, we are serving nearly

350,000 meals a year across the county.

The agency’s current operating budget is over $10 million

and the organization has no debt. There are approximately

250 highly skilled employees. These are individuals trained as

mentors, teachers and coaches to the kids.

TELL US ABOUT YOU. WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO

PALM BEACH?

After a career as a stockbroker in New York City, my wife

Betsy and I wanted a change in lifestyle. Both of us had come to

Palm Beach growing up. My mother’s family (Wells) were early

Palm Beach settlers. They originally came from Long Island and

purchased multiple properties in 1910. Betsy is Senior Portfolio

Manager at Northern Trust. I am Senior Global Advisor for

Sotheby’s International Realty and one of the firms leading

producers in Palm Beach and Sotheby’s top 1% worldwide.

WHAT ARE YOUR MAJOR ACCOMPLISHEMENTS DURING

YOUR 10 YEARS AS BOARD CHAIR?

During my tenure, the organization built four brand new,

state-of-the-art facilities, each in excess of 20,000 square

feet. Due to the generosity of our donors and close friends,

especially the Marjorie and Max Fisher family, Lesly Smith,

Danielle Hickox Moore, Mary Alice Fortin Foundation, Neil

Hirsch, Naoma Donnelley Haggin and the Lawrence De George

family, these facilities were built without financing. I am also

very excited to announce that we have secured private funding

for an additional new clubhouse to be built in Belle Glade next

year. This new building will add to our already large presence in

the Glades.

I am incredibly grateful to my Board of Directors. They are

the most dedicated group of people I have ever worked with

at a charity. Their individual commitment of interest, time and

treasure is unsurpassed. I would not have been able to have

such a successful decade with the organization if it wasn’t for

their love of the kids and mission of the agency. One cannot

imagine how this agency impacts the kids and families that we

serve. I have often been told by our former members who are

now productive adults that our organization saved their lives!

True citizenship means really digging in and finding the most

pressing needs of a community and doing everything you can to

help. I cannot think of a more compelling reason to be involved

with Boys & Girls Clubs.

ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH ANY OTHER CHARITIES?

Although Boys & Girls Clubs is my main philanthropy, I also

serve as Director of the American Red Cross Southeast region

and the Town of Palm Beach United Way. I am a former member

of the vestry of Bethesda-by-the Sea Church. Along with Tom

Quick, I have chaired the Eminent Speakers Luncheon for

Boys & Girls Clubs for many years. We have hosted such world

leaders as President George H.W. Bush, General Colin Powell,

Queen Noor, President Mikhail Gorbachev, President Pervez

Musharraf, and most recently Secretary of State Condoleezza

Rice.

WHAT’S COMING UP IN THE WAY OF EVENTS?

We have a busy line-up of fundraising events still to

come this season. Our 34th annual gala is March 13th at The

Breakers. This year Danielle Hickox Moore has agreed to be the

Chair of the evening with Mary Freitas, Eddy Taylor and Tom

Quick serving as Honorary Chairs. Also, one of the season’s

most fun party’s is Barefoot on the Beach on April 17th. I am

the Founder of the White Party for Boys & Girls Clubs and it has

become a very popular end of season event and is held at The

Breakers Beach Club.

In addition, the Great Futures Polo Day is March 15th at

the International Polo Club and Grand Champions Polo Club

in Wellington and our third annual Be Great Dinner will be

March 19th in Delray Beach.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT THE AGENCY?

Founded in 1971, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach

County is a not-for-profit youth development agency dedicated

to promoting the educational, vocational, good health and life

skills all in a safe and nurturing environment. The Clubs provide

more than a safe, fun and constructive alternative to being

home alone — they offer a variety of award winning programs

to help financially disadvantaged youth build skills, self-esteem

and values. We serve children 6-18 years of age. For more

information please visit www.bgcpb.org.

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