7QUESTIONS+PLUS

Wally Graffen, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenosha Boys & Girls Club. Graffen, who’s been affiliated with the Boys & Girls Club for most of his life says it’s a like a second home to him. He says he and his wife of 21 years, Kristen, share a common vision for mentoring the children and offering a meaningful place to grow and interact with other children. But little did we know, Graffen’s also an avid cook — he says he loves creating new dishes, cooking French cuisine and hopes to one day develop his own cook book.

Wally Graffen will now take your questions ...

What drew you to work for the Boys & Girls Club? I was a member of the Oshkosh Boys Club on the day it opened in 1970. It became my second home. As I grew up, I began to appreciate the staff for what they taught me. This gave me the vision to continue with the Boys & Girls Clubs. I started full-time in 1980 and have been doing it ever since.

What are your favorite activities to do with kids? I love coaching basketball. This year I had the privilege of coaching my daughter’s Pee Wee basketball team. It was great to see the joy on the girls’ faces as they learned the sport and succeeded at it.

What challenges and obstacles does the Boys & Girls Club face? The biggest challenge that the Boys & Girls clubs face today is funding so that we are able to continue our current programs. We experienced several budget cuts from government funding and foundations including vital gang prevention programs. Our gang prevention staff has been reduced substantially over the last six years. However, we have aspirations to increase the staff back to the levels of 2001.

What is a program you would like to see the Boys & Girls Club implement that it hasn’t already? Programs involving the arts. It is extremely difficult to find funding to support the arts. Our children need more opportunities to express themselves in the way of music, drama, painting and dance. We also face challenges because of the lack of space available needed to offer this kind of programming to children.

It seems today’s youth are constantly playing video games and on computers. What types of things do you do at the Boys & Girls Club to help them remain active and physically fit? We limit the amount of time that our members can play on computers and video games. We offer programming in athletics, recreation games that involve physical activity, outdoor programming, along with many other areas that encourage youth to get off a chair. The Boys & Girls Club also believes strongly in one-on-one as well as group engagement. By sitting in front of a computer or TV, our kids are having problems with relating with one another. We offer programming and activities that work on communication and interaction skills.

If you could have a dream facility, what would it include? We are currently trying to develop it. A facility that includes a lot of gym space, drop-in facility for children 6-12, along with a teen center, a full-size kitchen that can offer snack and meal programs, state-of-the-art technology, a dance and drama area, along with community space for other non-profits to share.

If you had endless money for the club, how would you distribute it? If we were ever so fortunate to have an endless supply of money, the number one item would be to develop community centers throughout the city. If the club could put four to five centers, strategically located, the Boys & Girls Club would be able to reach all of the youth in Kenosha. Many of our kids are looking for places to go during non-school hours where they can have fun in a safe environment. We would know that our children are participating in programs and are learning and developing positive self-esteem.

Who inspires you? My wife who understands the importance and commitment of my job with the Boys & Girls Club and her willingness to be part of this vision.
What’s the best advice you have received? Don’t be afraid of failure, just get up and try again.

How have kids changed since you were a child? When I was a child, I could go and play for hours with my friends that lived several blocks away. My brother and I simply came home for dinner when it was dark. Today children need to be constantly monitored — where they are, who they are with, and what they are doing. Kids are also engaged in video games and TV, instead of playing outside and interacting with other children. When I was a child the only phone was the one in my kitchen, today even kids in elementary school have cell phones and it seems that they can’t live without them. Children today need adults to instruct them how to play when it came so naturally when I was a child.

What’s your favorite example of a kid saying the darndest thing? It never fails at the end of a basketball game with the Pee Wee girls, the first question is, “Did we win the game?” Then they all cheer, then the next question is, “What is for snack?”