Joe Harlan feels obligated to give back because of what he learned as a youngster growing up in Shelbyville.
Many of those lessons came from the Shelbyville Boys Club.
So Harlan, who has had a successful business career, and his wife, Theresa (Elliott) Harlan, also from Shelbyville, have given $1 million to be used for the Boys Club and Girls Inc.
“You’ve got to give back to the folks who gave you guidance and help along the way,” said Harlan, a 1977 graduate of Shelbyville High School.
John Hartnett, another SHS grad and now executive director of the Shelbyville Boys Club, is thrilled.
“It’s tremendous news,” said Hartnett, who, like Harlan, has been named to the Shelbyville High School Hall of Fame.
“We’re extremely grateful to Joe and Theresa for the magnitude of their gift and ongoing concern for their hometown of Shelbyville,” he added.
Following graduation from Indiana University in 1981, Harlan went to work for General Electric, then 3M Company and finally Dow Chemical where he now holds the position of Vice Chairman and Chief Commercial Officer.
“I moved 15 times in 35 years,” said Harlan, who now lives in Chicago.
Harlan’s gift will be divided 50-50 between the recently-launched joint capital campaign to fund building and parking improvements for the Boys Club and Girls Inc., and a reserve / sustaining fund for the two organizations that are managed by the Blue River Community Foundation, with each getting $500,000.
The gift has already been received, Hartnett said.
In deciding to make the gift, Harlan said he looked at the good works done by the organizations. The Boys Club he attended was much more than just basketball, he said.
“Boys and girls clubs are an extension of the classroom,” said Harlan, who remembered traveling to play basketball games against other boys clubs in Greensburg and beyond.
Harlan said his parents, Joe Harlan Sr. and Jenny (Craig) Harlan, both worked, so he went to the Boy’s Club before and after school to play games, pool and basketball.
“Those coaches had other jobs and took the time to do that,” he said.
It was a learning experience that helped him get where he is today and be able to give back.
His father still lives in Shelbyville and his grandmother, now 102, lives in Boggstown, Harlan added.
“I’m proud of where I’m from,” he said. “We’re happy to do it.”