Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford Announce the Appointment of Bruce Jeffery as Chief Executive Officer
Hartford, Conn. – February 11, 2025– The Board of Trustees of Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford (BGCH) is proud to announce the appointment of Bruce W. Jeffery as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective March 3, 2025. With a deep passion for youth development and a proven leadership record, Bruce will lead the organization into its next chapter of service and growth.
During Bruce’s five-year tenure with the YMCA, he has held multiple roles of increasing responsibility: first as the Branch Executive Director in Louisville, KY; then as the Senior Vice President of Community Impact; and currently as the Chief Youth Development Officer for the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati. Under Bruce’s leadership, he has guided programs and funding that impact more than 16,000 youth in the Greater Cincinnati Region. Some highlights include leading community efforts that supported collective impact, the creation of the Carl H. Lindner Impact Center, the acquisition of the Music Resource Center, and the relocation of the Y’s downtown Early Learning Center to a new site.
Bruce will return to the Boys and Girls Club Movement after serving as the Executive Director for 7 years at the Decatur, Illinois Boys & Girls Club before his roles at the YMCA. During his time in Decatur, he successfully raised significant funds, enhanced operational efficiency, and led the initiative to build a new Teen Center for the youth of Decatur. As Executive Director, he was honored as a "Decatur Hero" by the Decatur City Council, recognized as one of the “20 under 40” by the Illinois Business Journal, and awarded Non-Profit of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Bruce served as an Auxiliary Police Officer with the Decatur Police Department.
“We are delighted with Bruce’s appointment and are thrilled to welcome him to the city of Hartford and to the BGCH community,” said Ping Hsieh, Executive Board Chair of BGCH. “Bruce has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to empowering young people. We are confident that under Bruce’s dynamic leadership, BGCH will continue its 165-year tradition and strengthen our mission to help every child reach their full potential. We conducted an extensive nationwide search and are extremely pleased with the search process and the result. We thank Ron Hadorn for his service as Interim CEO and Nancy Jackson at Eos Transition Partners for her assistance in our search.”
Jim Clark, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America said, “BGCH holds a special place for us as the birthplace of the Boys & Girls Club. I congratulate BGCH on its successful search and welcome Bruce back to the Movement. I look forward to Bruce’s strong stewardship and the continued success of this outstanding organization.”
“I am humbled and honored to join and lead this incredible organization and to build upon its strong historic legacy of impact,” said Bruce Jeffery. “I am excited to be working alongside our dedicated staff, volunteers, Board of Trustees and supporters to create even more opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and thrive.”
For more information about BGCH and its programs, please visit BGCHartford.org.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford fill the gap between school and home, providing a welcoming and positive environment for thousands of youth each year. Founded by four women in Hartford in 1860, Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford has the honor and distinction of being the nation’s first Club and maintains traditional clubhouses and school-based sites throughout Hartford. 165 years later we continue to be at the forefront of youth development, working with young people from various economic, social and family circumstances. Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.