It was a warm day when a man dressed in a dark suit walked into the little Clubhouse at 355 Dundee Avenue. He introduced himself as Kevin, and said he wanted to help. That warm day was the beginning of what has become an almost seven year journey for Club volunteer Kevin McCarty. When he began his journey with the Club, Kevin was very clear about his intentions: he wanted to help kids, spend time with them and not serve in a board role. He knew that his background as a family lawyer with his law firm, Bolz & McCarty, LLC, would make him an attractive board prospect for the Club. He was right of course, but the Club respected his wishes and did not pursue him as a potential board member.

Kevin quickly became affectionately known to the kids and the staff as "Mr. Kevin," a name that he is still called to this day. During the early years of his time with the Club, you could often find Mr. Kevin sitting on a chair, suit still on with a removed tie, surrounded by attentive kids, reading, laughing and just talking. On some days, Kevin would arrive with a special treat, pizza boxes in hand for the kids. And each year, at his own personal expense, he took his kids on a special trip, whether to Brookfield Zoo, Dupage Children's Museum or some other fun place.

Nearly five years to the day after walking through our doors, Mr. Kevin sat in my office, looking at me. It was just after the holidays and he simply said, "I am ready." Kevin was finally ready to serve on our Board of Directors- and we were overjoyed to have him! Mr. Kevin has been an exemplary volunteer, now representing the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin as a dedicated board member. Despite serving the Club in this new capacity, Kevin still makes weekly visits to the Club to work with his kids. He has seen many of our youth members grow from children who barely reached his waist into productive, active young adults.

Last fall, Mr. Kevin sat in my office yet again, but this time he had news that I wish I would never have heard- he was diagnosed with leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant. As Mr. Kevin checked into Rush Hospital after identifying a family member that is a bone marrow match, we all took a long, deep breath. We remained in contact with Mr. Kevin through his recuperation process and are thankful that his weekly follow-up tests continue to show his recovery moving in a positive direction. Although he cannot yet return to volunteering with his kids, Mr. Kevin is eager to get back to his family here at the Club. Mr. Kevin truly has become a part of the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin family. His dedication, commitment and investment in the mission of the Club are unparalleled. Mr. Kevin has changed the lives of countless young people, and he has impacted so many of us as well.