Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee Announces Changes to Senior Leadership Team

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – (Tuesday, January 10, 2023) – Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee (BGCGM) today announced that Aaron Rice has been named to the newly formed role of Chief Development Officer and Deonte Lewis has been promoted to Vice President, Camp and Club Operations.

Aaron Rice

Rice has several years of senior leadership experience in development and business partnership and engagement roles. Most recently Rice served as Chief Development Officer and Vice President of Innovation & Partnerships at Families First in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to that Rice was the Director of Business Engagement for United Way of Greater Atlanta.

“Aaron is the right leader for this new role at BGCGM,” said Kathy Thornton-Bias, President and CEO of BGCGM. “His extensive background in community serving organizations, business development skills and desire to make a difference will enable us to serve more youth and amplify our impact in Milwaukee.”

“I am excited to join the amazing team at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee which has an incredible legacy of working together to see the youth of Greater Milwaukee achieve their highest potential,” said Aaron Rice. “I look forward to connecting with the community to continue to build on this legacy and find innovative ways to expand our impact and serve more of our youth.”

While working with Families First Rice oversaw growth and innovation initiatives and led relationships with key corporate and community stakeholders. During his time at United Way of Greater Atlanta, he developed and implemented the organization’s first-ever LGBTQ+ specific fund in partnership with the OUT Georgia Business Alliance.

Deonte Lewis

Lewis began his journey with the Clubs at the age of four, where he was empowered and inspired by key staff who are still prevalent in his life today. He most recently served as the Vice President of Community Affairs for BGCGM.

“When this role became available, Deonte stepped in as our interim Operations leader,” said Kathy Thornton-Bias, President and CEO of BGCGM. “His immediate impact was felt by everyone around him. We very quickly realized that Deonte was ready and committed to make a significant and tangible difference for the youth we serve.”

“I have had the pleasure of being a beneficiary of the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee—it truly transformed my life,” said Deonte Lewis. “Now it comes full circle as I step into this role of Vice President, Camp and Club Operations. I am committed to investing in the staff that invest in youth to positively shift the trajectory of the community we serve.”

Lewis is a proud Alumni of Cardinal Stritch’s African American Leadership Program (AALP) and serves as the Midwest Regional Chair for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Society of African American Professionals (SOAAP).

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee (BGCGM) is one of the largest and longest youth-serving agencies in Milwaukee and the largest Boys & Girls Club in the country. With more than 50 locations in the city of Milwaukee, BGCGM provides youth ages 4-18 with safe, fun, enriching after-school and summer programming including academic support, mentorship, organized athletics, arts, and nutritious meals. Our programs strengthen academic performance, build character, encourage healthy lifestyles, and meet the basic needs of Milwaukee’s youth. More than 80 percent of BGCGM’s annual budget goes toward youth programming. Learn more at www.bgcmilwaukee.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.