Melvin Campos
Chief Executive Officer
mcampos@bgcmvny.org
Mel Campos serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon. He took over the task of running the Club in February of 2013. He is a lifetime Boys & Girls Club Advocate. Under his leadership, average daily attendance has increased from 80 to 105, the budget has increased from $550,000 to more than $900,000, and the board has added nine new members. Mel has also developed new partnerships and collaborations with community stakeholders and brought in several new programs including the nationally recognized STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) Program.
Halima Penny
Director of Outcome Measurement
hpenny@bgcmvny.org
As a young girl growing up in St Thomas Virgin Islands, Halima Penny was always curious and adventurous, wondering what the world had in store for her. Her first employment was at Pine Peace Market at the age of eleven. After completing High School, her second job was a Customer Service Representative at the prestigious Ritz Carlton Hotel in St. Thomas. Little did she know that the training she received at the Ritz Carlton and Pine Peace Market would serve her well in her career. Knowing that the world had more to offer than she experienced in St. Thomas, Halima transferred to a Ritz Carlton in Pentagon City, Arlington VA. After one year, Halima decided to move to New York to see what the big city had to offer while she continued her education. Halima’s decision to move to New York was triggered by a desire to earn a college degree, and she enrolled at Monroe College and worked a full time job at the Bank of New York, and raising her three young children as a single mother. She earned her Bachelors degree, and Master’s Degree in Education from Capella University.
Halima’s break came when she interviewed at the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon as a volunteer. She was accepted as a volunteer and very quickly became an asset to the Organization. In September of 2013, she was hired as a part time Front Desk Operator. She then became the Club’s first Teen Coordinator. As Teen Coordinator she introduced the teens to Culture and Art while emphasizing the importance and value of education. In January 2015, Halima was hired as the Club’s first Outcome Measurement Specialist. She also coordinated the Club’s Youth of the Year Program and the Boys & Girls Club National Youth Outcome Initiative. She has since been promoted to Director of Outcome Measurement. You can say that Halima Penny is the Club’s Ombudsman! Asked about her work with the youth, Halima responded, “Working with young people is rewarding yet challenging. I am blessed to have the opportunity to work closely with our youth. I love seeing them develop into mature, polished, disciplined, and respectable young adults. When I see a young person transition successfully from High School to College it gives me a sense of accomplishment and also makes me feel that the Boys & Girls Club is doing something great.” Halima’s journey is evolving; the end of the story is yet to be written. But for now, she is enjoying working with young people and making a difference in young lives.
Jay Andronaco
Director of Development
Jay has more than 30 years of experience in development, partnerships, marketing, strategic planning, promotions, public relations, events, and marketing communications.
Jay started his career working in the sports and entertainment industry. In those 25 years, he handled several key positions within the sports world, including at Army West Point Sports Properties, Special Olympics Connecticut, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Acclaim Sports Video Games, PGA of America Trade Shows (Reed Exhibition), Pepsi/Mountain Dew NASCAR (Millsport Sports Marketing), Diageo NASCAR, Golf, Soccer and Volleyball (Colangelo Synergy Marketing & Integrated Merchandising Systems), Strat-O-Matic Sports Game Company and Summit Golf Brands (Non-Stop Marketing & Promotions).
In 2012, Jay decided to leave the corporate world, and use his talents and passion to help others, and went to work for Special Olympics Connecticut in the development department. To say it was love at first sight, would be an understatement.
Since 2012, Jay has worked with several nonprofits, including Cardinal McCloskey Community Services, Villa Maria School, Capital Preparatory Charter Schools, Housatonic Habitat for Humanity, and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – CT Chapter, as part of his agency, Non-Stop Marketing & Promotions.
Jay has personal ties to the Boys & Girls Club, as his daughter is an alumnus of the Boys & Girls Club of Milford, CT. Jay saw first-hand, his daughter’s growth through the Club’s mission and programs.
Jay is a proud graduate of Springfield College, class of 1991. He has one daughter, Isabelle, who is a senior at Springfield College. In his free time, he is an avid golfer and enjoys being with family and friends.
Edwin Lopez
Director of Security
elopez@bgcmvny.org
Edwin Lopez has joined our staff as Director of Safety and Security, and he has immediately become a mentor and a role model for the children and young adults at the Club. He conducts our Club’s Passport to Manhood sessions for young members every week, and takes great pride in his ability to have a positive influence on them.
Edwin has also built outstanding relations with local law enforcement. Prior to joining the club, Edwin has held different security positions for over 20 years, including as Patrol Supervisor at the New York Botanical Garden and as Field Supervisor for Winfield security company in NYC.
Karen Cole
Financial Manager
kcole@bgcmvny.org
Karen Erica Cole recently joined the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon as an Education Assistant. She cherishes her role in providing academic and healthy lifestyle guidance to the club’s members. Karen has held several positions in the non profit arena over the last 25 years as both an administrator and consultant. She specialized in human resources, training, staff and volunteer development.
DonnaMarie McKenzie
Front Desk Coordinator
dmckenzie@bgcmvny.org
DonnaMarie McKenzie is a single mother of four beautiful children who she respects and adores. She is a very strong independent woman who tries to steer her children in the right way; therefore, she does her best in trying by being the example for them.
She has volunteered at the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon for approximately six months and was recently employed as the Front Desk Coordinator. “I am very delightful to be a part of the Boys & Girls team and I hope to be a support in any way I can with the children in our community or those who come through our doors.” DonnaMarie has worked with children for many years as an Assistant Teacher and as a Head Junior Teacher in her church. She has also worked as a Childcare Provider. “I believe that we can accomplish our goals to empower children to be better citizens of tomorrow and letting them understand that their environment does not depict who they are. I am honored to work with the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon to assist with the fundamental goal of why this Club exist.”
Sharon Young
Director of Education
syoung@bgcmvny.org
Sharon Young has been employed with the Mount Vernon City School District since 2010. While employed by the special education department she began her new quest in 2017 working in the kindergarten autism cohort.
Sharon began her journey with the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon as the education assistant in 2014. She was promoted to the Director of Education in 2016. Her responsibilities include, but are not limited to running the STEM, Torch, and education program where managing her team to ensure everything operates in a smooth an orderly manner is imperatively important.
Sharon has always enjoyed being in the company of children. She has been working with children in the community for over ten years.
Earlier in her career, Sharon was employed with Home School Connections at Allen Memorial Church for over ten years at different capacities, including Head teacher, Assistant Camp Director, and Camp Director. Sharon shared her passion for crocheting to teach teach students about her craft.She also enjoyed being the dance choreographer and putting on shows for the parents.
Sharon loves to travel with family and friends, going to church, and spending time with her family.
Sharon considers herself to be a positive role model for children. “I hope to be able to save as many children as she can that cross my path.” After 20 years servicing children and youth, she still finds pleasure reaching one child at a time.
Charnea Walker
Teen Coordinator
I am the youngest of 5 children born from Lewis and Barbara in Harlem, and I was raised in both New Jersey and New York. During my youth, New Jersey was my solitude and most weekends in Harlem and/or the Bronx was my getaway and “safe haven.” I am a single mother of 3 and “Nana” to 3, and I love children.
From the age of 9 I wanted to be a teacher, and as a teenager I was very attentive to school, friends, and my family. I learned so much from my parents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins, and traveling back and forth between New York and New Jersey exposed me to the streets and helped me to communicate with a large, diverse culture. With the rapid growth of technology, I decided to study accounting after high school instead of teaching, and discovered that I enjoyed working with numbers, and worked as a senior bookkeeper preparing statistics for the CEO, CFO, and other colleagues at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, and also prepared tax returns at H&R Block. As the economy grew, I realized I needed to be multi-talented, and I earned my BS in Science and MBA from the University of Phoenix. During this time, I remembered my passion for teaching and was offered an opportunity to volunteer at my youngest son’s school. There I was overjoyed to see the children learning and developing an understanding of life, academics, and being socially connected, and knew that is where I would love to be, working with youth to help them reach their highest potential. When I see youth “lights shine” and their talents exposed, it reminded me to prioritize and guide them in a positive direction, and this motivated me to further my education, and I earned my degree in Child Advocacy and Policy from Montclair State University.
I will always be a continuous learner and will constantly support and advocate for “Each One Teach One.” We live in a diverse world and it is an honor to work as Teen Coordinator at the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon, where I promote, support, encourage, and campaign for all of our youth, and help them transition into adulthood by providing them with the resources they need to be successful in their future endeavors.
Joseph Johnson
Gym Coordinator
jjohnson@bgcmvny.org
Joe Johnson runs the gym at the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon. He is creative and a strong role model for the youth and staff. Joe enjoys creative ways to engage the youth to learn while having fun. He believes it is important for adults to give back to youth to teach them about making positive life choices.
Joe’s greatest joy is helping kids and teens stay physically fit in a safe environment, while keeping their minds off of the temptation of the streets.
Jasmine Pearce
Education Assistant
jpierce@bgcmvny.org
Club Alumnus Jasmine Pierce is a 2020 graduate of SUNY Cortland, where she earned her degree in Early Childhood Education. She started coming to the Club as a member at the age of 8 years old and continued every year for 14 years.
Jasmine started working at BGCMV since she was 15 and volunteered starting at age 13. She plans to begin student teaching in Manhattan this fall. Jasmine also plans to continue her studies and pursue her master’s degree in Special Education. Her career goals are to become a principal and eventually start her own Charter School.
“I am very thankful to the Club for teaching me the values of being mature, and flexible, and also to show respect, demonstrate leadership, and improve my ability to multi-task. I also learned to further appreciate diversity, as I will exposed to working and playing with others. “
Her advice to youth:
- Love yourself – we are all beautiful!
- Don’t be afraid to try new things!
- Go outside your comfort zone.
- Treat Everyone with respect.
Ariel Sanful
Education Assistant
asanful@bgcmvny.org
Ariel graduated from Dutchess Community College in May 2018, with an Associates Degree in Humanities & Science, and is currently enrolled in Iona College as a Speech Communications major. She has been very active in her community, including Girls Scouts. She began working with the Mt. Vernon Youth Bureau at Mt.Vernon Daycare center, where she worked with 1 & 2 year olds. Ariel has danced with Revelators, and loves to work with kids and currently works in administration for the Revelators. She is currently education assistant for the Boys & Girls Club of Mt. Vernon After School Program.
Marcia Brown
Education Assistant
Marcia Brown’s journey with the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon started as a single parent in need of after-school care for her daughter Lauren, who at the time was 6 years old.
As a life -long educator in the city of Mount Vernon, she taught Pre-K for 15 years at Vernon Heights Day Care Center until its doors closed. She is currently pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Special Education.
Marcia joined the BGCMV staff in the Fall of 2022. “As a parent, the Club has been a life saver, and I fully intend on exemplifying the same level of outstanding care that I’ve been the recipient of all these years. They say it takes a village to raise the child, and I am very proud and honored to be a part of this village.”
Christian Burgos
Game Room Coordinator
I help to teach our kids how to play games in our Game Room and I often play with them. Part of my responsibility is to set up tournaments for the kids to compete in and offer awards to the winners. My goal is to help these kids have as much fun as possible while they learn something new in the process.
I am also a Teen Member of the Club, and have been coming here since I was 8 years old. The years have gone by so quickly, and before I knew it, I joined the Teen program. My brother and family have also been involved for many years. My dream is to be a boxer and my goal is to pursue a professional career while I continue to work with our Club members. I encourage all young kids to come to the Club, as I know it will impact their lives for the better, the same way it has impacted me.
Marisol Torres
Weekend Assistant
Marisol Torres is a single mother of three children, and has lived in Mt. Vernon for over 20 years in Mount Vernon. MS Torres joined the staff at the Boys & Girls Club in 2014. In addition to working at the Club, she is employed by the Mount Vernon City School District at AB Davis Middle School. She gets great pleasure in seeing young people excel. She is impressed with how well beloved the children are at the Club. “The children are more disciplined and show more respect.” Ms. Torres likes working at the Club because she feels welcome and feels a sense of family between the staff and the children. She was born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Deborah Davis
Chef
My name is Deborah Davis and I have recently joined the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon as a member of the cooking staff.
I have previously worked with children for many years in different capacities such as child care provider private and other institutions. I am a single mother of three sons who are all grown up. Being a single mother has taught me how to be a strong independent woman. I have taught my sons the right thing to do in life. I was not familiar with the Boys & Girls Club until now, and I wish I had known about it when my children were younger. I am hoping to be at the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon for a while and be a supportive individual in whatever way I can. I am truly grateful to a part of an incredible organization.