The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego recently named longtime National City resident Allie Pruitt as the new chairwoman of its board of directors.
Pruitt, 70, is a former board president for National City’s Boys & Girls Club.
Pruitt said she is honored that the board appointed her as the chairwoman.
“I’m very humbled and proud that the organization has faith in me that I can help with the leadership and help move forward,” Pruitt said.
Pruitt succeeds Tee Ness, who only served the organization for one year.
Ness is the president and chief executive officer of Hawthorne Machinery.
As chairwoman of the 60-member governing board her duties include providing leadership to the organization and bringing about new goals and ideas.
Pruitt said her top goal is to keep the children in the clubs happy.
“The first goal that I always have when it comes to that organization is I like to see happy smiling faces,” she said.
Pruitt is also in charge of fund- raising and providing financial stability for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego.
“There is always the need for funds,” she said. “Any non-profit that’s successful is always improving the past (and) the present, so that the future is better for the organization.”
With about 24,000 annual members, Pruitt oversees all 14 Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego sites and four Boys & Girls Club school sites.
Pruitt has served the National City location, which was unified with Greater San Diego in 2009, for more than 40 years as a financial donor and as a board member.
The National City branch was unified because the Boys & Girls Clubs of America president felt that it was difficult for the National City club to survive as a stand-alone club.
Pruitt said her time serving National City as the board president will help her greatly in her new position.
“I’m not a stranger to Boys & Girls Clubs’ philosophy and goals,” she said. “It helps me understand the position I am in today.” She said under her tenure, the Boys & Girls Clubs would continue to make children its main priority.
“Every day after school they (children) are looking for some place to go where they can have fun and be safe,” Pruitt said. “And that’s what the clubs all throughout the county, all throughout the country, provide for children.”
Pruitt’s position as chairperson is a volunteer position, therefore she won’t get a salary.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America formed in 1860 to serve as an after-school program for young children.
