Karen DeSanto leaving Boys and Girls Clubs after 12 years (2024)

The 12-year leader of Boys and Girls Clubs of West-Central Wisconsin who has overseen a doubling in the number its club locations is stepping down in January.

Karen DeSanto, who began her tenure as chief executive officer of the Boys and Girls Clubs chapter in 2011, said the chapter’s growth during her time has been “incredible, all because we needed great places for kids to go.”

When DeSanto began, the chapter had locations in Baraboo and Tomah. It has since added facilities in Reedsburg and in Portage, which opened in May.

“During my tenure, we’ve seen incredible things,” DeSanto said. “It’s all about these kids. Watch our kids come through the club and graduate high school and get jobs and go to college. It’s so awesome to see that happen right in front of us.”

The club expansions increased enrollment in the Boys and Girls Clubs of West-Central Wisconsin, DeSanto said, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on membership statewide. Membership has since rebounded, with DeSanto estimating that roughly 100 children visit the Baraboo club every day.

“Right now, we serve about 1,200 kids in our West-Central Wisconsin club family,” DeSanto said, adding that roughly 5,000 more are not official members but interact with the clubs in some capacity.

Before the pandemic, she said, the chapter began the “Kid’s Cafe” program, which added kitchens to the four club sites, which now provide youths with hot meals prior to their leaving each day. The program continued during the pandemic, delivering meals to children’s houses in a van purchased earlier in DeSanto’s tenure.

Along with the expansions, the chapter began the Strategic Academic Success Initiative in 2015. The program’s focus is on increased high school graduation rates, college placements, internships, volunteering and community partnerships for current and former club members. DeSanto said the chapter has a “graduation specialist” at high schools in each of the four cities to help increase the graduation rates.

“Karen’s commitment and unwavering dedication to excellence have significantly enhanced the organization’s capacity to serve and empower youth from diverse backgrounds, positively impacting countless lives,” Andy Gussert, director of the Wisconsin Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, said in a statement.

The Boys and Girls Clubs focus on academic success, leadership, healthy lifestyle and positive choices, DeSanto said. She said she and other leaders emphasized listening to the needs of youths enrolled in the clubs and others who use the facilities.

The chapter began a boxing program six years ago because of the demand for “singular recreation activities” as opposed to team-oriented ones. A harmonics choir also was established under DeSanto’s oversight in collaboration with students at Baraboo High School.

DeSanto also mentioned community volunteers and business partners who have assisted the club with its activities, including Pulse Fitness, which provided trainers to teach youths in the boxing program.

“We’ve got alumni all over the country doing incredible things just because they were club kids,” DeSanto said. “It really means a lot to me.”

The club has taken youths on college tours, helped them fill out financial aid applications, and introduced those not as interested in attending college to employment opportunities.

“How can our kids go out in wherever they live or wherever they go and be those great citizens?” DeSanto said. “We want them to be accomplished and participate.”

DeSanto expressed optimism for the clubs’ future, saying the organization “has things in the hopper” for after she leaves. She plans to do motivational speaking and youth consulting after stepping down, along with maintaining a presence with the clubs in an advisory capacity.

“I’m looking to bridge some of my skills and help more nonprofits,” DeSanto said, “looking to do some executive coaching and leadership skill building.”