Boys and Girls Clubs' of NWI, Porter County to merge

The landmark decision — approved at two separate board meetings on Monday — arrived after six months of discussion about the potential merger, the release stated. A due diligence committee evaluated the benefits and challenges of a merger.  

“A merged Boys & Girls Club will allow us to combine resources, efforts and talent to move programming for our kids dramatically forward to meet today’s and future needs," said Tanya Leetz, board member and spokesperson for Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana. 

"Kids are kids no matter what county they live in, and our clubs combined efforts will only strengthen our missions of helping youth realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens," she added. 

Bonnie Coleman, board member and spokesperson for Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County, said the key question in merger discussions was if a reallocation of resources and assets would allow the organizations to better serve children. 

"When that answer became more clear as a resounding 'yes,' the decision to merge became easy as the best interests of all youth, no matter the county in which they reside, were taken into consideration," Coleman said. 

A transition committee is in place to support efforts of operating as one organization.

In the short term, club operations, including after-school and summer programming, "will continue as they always have," according to the release. In the long term, club operations will not change significantly, but new programs, services and enhancements are expected.