Boys and Girls Club of Clifton and the New Board of Trustees

Very few people in Clifton have not had a connection of some sort with the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton. For decades, children have learned sports, participated in preschool, before and after school care, attended Camp Clifton and the Teen Center, and so much more. Bingo is held several times a week and is a wonderful way for adults to form friendships, play games that can benefit them mentally (keep track of several cards at once – it’s not easy!), and maybe even win a few dollars.

The Club is an amazing resource that takes time and expertise to run smoothly. At the core of the Club is its remarkable Board of Trustees and Sunday was a day for installation of its newest members. The term lasts two years and the purpose of the Board is to work with their staff and volunteers, community officials, and businesses to set priorities for the Club with an eye towards the future. The mission of the Club is to “inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.”

Clifton High School Senior Alias Ragsdale, who is the Clifton Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year (and was a state finalist too) did a fine job as Emcee for the afternoon’s festivities, held on Sunday, October 8th at the Barnyard and Carriage House in Totowa. 

After a delicious brunch, the meeting featured brief speeches by Executive Director Robert Foster, Outgoing Chairman of the Board of Trustees Richard Mariso and Club Historian James Anzaldi. The symbolic gavel was passed from outgoing President Cindy DeVos to new President Katrine Hyde in a brief and touching ceremony. 

DeVos became emotional talking about her many years of service and the joy of passing the torch to a new Board. Incoming President Katrine Hyde talked about the day as a teen she walked into the Aquatics Office without an appointment looking for a job teaching swimming, “and was hired on the spot by Coach Nadia.” She never thought that years later, she’d be in such a position of responsibility and giving back. Nadia Stavko looked on proudly, beaming at the memory and enjoying the success story.

The new Board of Trustees will serve a two-year term and be instrumental in moving forward after several difficult years due to the impact of Covid, among other challenges. They are:

Chairperson of the Board Cindy DeVos

President Katrine Hyde

Vice President John L. Fette

Treasurer Joseph Cupoli

Secretary Michele Chambers

Historian James Anzaldi

Other officers for 2023 are Frank Carlet; Tina Chung; Janelle Hall; Mansfield J. Holmes, Jr; Dominic Iannarella; Michael Lesler; Dante P. Liberti; Laura Nicosia; Louis Nosti; Maureen O’Connor and Bharat Rana.

Officers for 2024 are Howard Baum; Gina Corradino; Angelo Crudele; Raymond G. Kunz; Gloria Martini; Frank Pajuelo and Brent Rudnick.

Organizations honored include:

CASA

City of Clifton

Clifton Board of Education

Clifton P.B.A. Local #36

Clifton F.M.B.A. Local #21

Fette Ford, Kia and Infiniti

Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine

Nicholas Martini Foundation

NOC Auto Body

Cuellar Family (ShopRite of Passaic)

Corradino and Papa

City Green

Esai,Inc.

Garden State Honda

Pick Pina Group, LLC

Stew Leonard’s Children’s Charities

Amazon

The Boys & Girls Club of Clifton Men’s Club

Ladies Auxiliary

Clifton Seahawks Swim Team Parent Council

Hugh and Patricia O’Kane Family Foundation

Hugh O’Kane Electric Company

After the last award was presented, people chatted and updated each other, reminisced about their times and experiences with the Club, reconnected with one another, and made new connections.

To learn more about the Club and all it has to offer, please visit their website. The Club is located at 822 Clifton Avenue.

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