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Vol. 56, No. 8
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
Baker Youth Club 100th year
By ABBY OLIVER Staff Writer
MAGNETIC WALL — Children enjoy the magnetic wall featured in the STEM Center at BYC. Photos provided by Tracy Furnivall, executive director of BYC.
Baker Youth Club is starting its 100th year of developing children’s education, health and social skills in Warsaw and surrounding communities. BYC began as Baker Boys’ Club Aug. 14, 1926, after East Coast banker and Rotary Club member Bramwell Baker challenged Warsaw to match his $1,000 donation to start a boys’ club. Pete Thorn, a Warsaw Community School teacher and coach, was the first part-time director for 37 years until 1963, when Robert “Coach” Lichtenwalter stepped in. The club’s current facility, “Lichtenwalter Center,” is named in his honor, and he was involved in the club until his passing in 2015. In 1992, Scott Wiley became the third part-time director. Baker Boys’ Club soon dropped its affiliation with the Boys Club of America, opened its doors to girls and changed its name to Baker Youth Club. Tracy Furnivall, BYC’s first full-time director, was hired in 2003. Furnivall attended Baker Boys’ Club in the 1970s and ‘80s as a child, when the club focused more on
of serving children
sports and activities. When Furnivall became director, BYC leadership talked to community members to determine their biggest needs. The board redeveloped its mission and purpose, emphasizing education, health and social development. “I think that’s something that we have done in my 23 years, is listen to the community,” Furnivall said. “That is how it has all developed over the years … identifying the needs in our community and then just going and making it happen.”
ORIGINAL CHALLENGER — Shown is Bramwell Baker, an East Coast banker and Rotary Club member who challenged the city of Warsaw to match his $1,000 donation to start a boys’ club. That club, Baker Boys’ Club, is the foundation of Baker Youth Club today.
Now, BYC’s all-encompassing facility features healthy, educational and social activities for children, from summer to before- and after-school programs. During summer programs, children enjoy field trips, reading programs, athletic challenges and science, technology, engineering and mathematics projects. When school is in session, parents drop off registered students at BYC before school. BYC partners with Warsaw Community Schools to transport students to their schools. The Baker Bus, with help from WCS, then picks up students from area schools and brings them to BYC. For the first year, BYC is implementing a literacy program with WCS. “We’ll be helping identify those second- and third-graders who need extra help for their reading scores,” Furnivall said. BYC serves daily snacks and a meal every night, Monday through Thursday. “In a typical year, we’re serving approximately 18,000 juices and snacks and over 12,000 meals a school year,” Furnivall said. BYC offers homework rooms. Kindergarten through third graders have mandatory reading time, while fourth grade and older students follow an honor system. Students are encouraged to work on homework and ask for help when needed, with staff available to assist. BYC features a soccer room, two gymnasiums, a STEM Center, art room, game room and middle school café. The game room features a Lü Interactive System, a projected, internet-based gaming system that keeps kids physically active and engaged. The STEM Center has 100 discovery tubs built and donated by the education department at Grace College, each containing a STEM task with the necessary materials. The four-member leadership team has more than 60 years of combined experience with BYC. “We do not remove kids for non-payment,” Furnivall said. “Nobody gets turned away.” Furnivall said a parent recently brought in donuts and a thank-you card, thanking the staff for providing a safe environment for their children while they work. “When you see and hear those stories, that’s why we do what we do,” Furnivall said. “Our number one goal is to keep kids safe. Our second goal is to engage with them and
be a positive influence in their life.” Furnivall would like to see enrollment increase as BYC enters its 100th year. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, BYC saw 230 kids a day, compared with 150-160 now. “It’s pretty special, I think, for a not-for-profit, for any business, to survive 100 years,” Furnivall said. “We’re blessed with our previous three directors. I’m only the fourth director in 100 years.” Program registration can be found at bakeryouthclub.com.
PAST DIRECTORS — Shown are three of the four directors of BYC in a photo from more than a decade ago. Robert “Coach” Lichtenwalter, a former part-time director who has since passed away, sits at a table while Tracy Furnivall, left, speaks with Scott Wiley, another former part-time director.