Shane Bargy awarded the 2020 Executive of the Year, Northeast Region

Boys & Girls Clubs of Schenectady’s Executive Director, Shane Bargy, was awarded the 2020 Executive of the Year, Northeast Region by The Professional Association of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

This award is presented to a member of The Professional Association who has provided leadership and assistance in advancing the careers of Boys & Girls Club Professionals and/or made significant contributions to the work of our profession while in their current position.

Shane Bargy, started his Boys & Girls Club journey as a youth member of the Mont Pleasant Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Schenectady (BGCS). A Schenectady native and graduate of Mont Pleasant High School, Shane was first employed by BGCS as Program Director of the Rotterdam Club shortly after graduating from The College of St. Rose in Albany.

He then became Unit Director at the Mont Pleasant Club and after 10 years with the organization, went on to lead the Schenectady Youth Bureau for 5 years. Under Shane’s leadership, the Youth Bureau of Schenectady was considered one of the most innovative Youth Bureaus in NY State and during this time he also served as Co-Chair of Schenectady’s Promise.

Since embarking in the role of Executive Director in 2010, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Schenectady has experienced explosive growth. Under his leadership, a new building was erected at Camp Lovejoy, the number of youth served increased dramatically from 9,000 to 12,000 annually, BGCS expanded services to include managing all City of Schenectady pools and providing lifeguard training and swimming lessons to Schenectady residents, and massive renovations occurred at the Mont Pleasant and Rotterdam Clubhouses. Most recently, a brand-new state-of-the-art, 39,500 square foot facility was erected to provide a safe place for hundreds of Schenectady kids and teens – the Adeline Wright Graham Clubhouse.

Under Shane’s leadership, the Adeline Wright Graham Club has played a significant role is Schenectady’s ability to respond to the Covid-19 crisis. Serving as the hub for the Schenectady County Covid-19 Emergency Response Coalition, a collaboration of many local nonprofits, county departments and The Schenectady Foundation, the Adeline Wright Graham site provided space like no other in the City of Schenectady. The Clubhouse provided the safe space needed for the Coalition and dozens of volunteers (including The National Guard), to organize and distribute more than 16,500 “Life Bags” to Schenectady residents who were in mandatory quarantine. Shane and staff also created and managed a Grab & Go Free Hot Dinner program, serving more than 28,000 nutritious meals between March and August, when the pandemic was in its first wave.

“Shane leads by example with a drive and vision that results in positive and transformative change for the youth in our community,” said Director of Operations Louise DiFabbio, who has worked with Shane for nearly 30 years.