The Cliff Hagan Boys Club opened its doors in April 1967 and became chartered later that summer by the Boys and Girls Club of America. As landscapes changed, the board of directors changed the name to the Cliff Hagan Boys and Girls Club to include its female members in 1993.
The nonprofit has grown and evolved drastically over the last half-century and currently boasts six locations in four counties: Daviess, Bulter, Ohio, and Henderson.
“To accommodate the growing community demand for memberships, our Club has had a couple of different relocations for a bigger space,” said Kalie Winkler, the club’s director of RD and marketing. “After a successful capital campaign to raise funds for our permanent home, the Cliff Hagan Boys & Girls Club Mike Horn Unit opened its doors on October 14, 2005, at its permanent location on 3415 Buckland Square.”
The club offers after-school and summer programming for children between the ages of 6 and 18. Winkler said it promotes a safe environment, academic support, healthy snacks, high-quality programs, and supportive mentors.
She added that programming focuses on three primary areas of impact: academic success, healthy lifestyles, and good character and citizenship. They’ve also improved their care by following the 2025 BGCA impact model of “teen engagement, trauma-informed care, and workforce development.”
“All together under one organization, our Clubs are reaching more kids daily to provide the essential services for youth to build Great Futures,” she said. “Our mission is to inspire and empower young people by offering meaningful opportunities to enhance the quality of life for youth, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.”
Winkler attributes the nonprofit’s continued success to the community’s constant support.
“The community has helped support our mission through volunteer opportunities, direct community support, participation and sharing of fundraising events, corporate involvement, and willingness to do whatever it takes to help our youth succeed,” she said.
Most recently, the club celebrated its inaugural AG Day celebration, sponsored by Cargill. They also received the West Bend grant to offer workforce development training using virtual reality.
The club’s CEO, Steve Winkler, was recently named Boys and Girls Club CEO of the year across Kentucky. He said they aim to meet kids where they spend 80% of their time: outside of school, and they’re doing whatever it takes to build great futures.
“We’re advocating for equal access and opportunities for all young people and developing life-enhancing programs that encourage kids to elevate the power of their voice,” he said. “We also have caring mentors who help kids develop the skills they need to succeed, and we’re elevating the next generation of leaders.”
The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Chamber has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for over a century.
Today, with nearly 1,000 members, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives and serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.
To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Shelly Nichols, Chamber Vice President, at 270-926-1860 or [email protected].
