178: Alec Reinert

VP of Development, Olivet’s Boys & Girls Club

Olivet Boys and Girls Club of Reading and Berks County

Alec secures funds for all the activities at the club through grants, long term partnerships, sponsorships and runs special events. At this point he doesn’t know what “normal operations” look like at Olivet. Because he was only in this job position for seven days before the pandemic and shutdown hit.

What he did see was Olivet providing plenty of: remote learning, they became an emergency food distributor, setting up vaccination clinics, providing pretty much anything the kids and their families needed. Funds raised went to supplying food, drinks, hygiene supplies, and so much more. Care for abused children was of vital importance to them as well.

Alec said he was so pleased to see, “The Berks County community as a whole making sure youth had somewhere to go each day, that they had food, shelter, clothing, good hygiene. All of our partners and donors were overwhelmingly supportive.” He added it was wonderful, “to see pure joy on the faces of the youth. In their darkest times they would say thank you.” As he put it, “It gave me a new perspective and appreciation for what our organization does…everyone (at Olivet) banded together to provided services.”

Even though many members of his family had been tested numerous times for COVID, many of his co-workers tested positive and two people close to him died from it. Alec continues to have a positive outlook for the future, if we care for the kids of today. He put it this way, “These kids will someday be the leaders. Embrace the community and work with each other. Going through hard times causes people to collaborate, work together, and have unique ideas (to solve problems.) Keeping this idea into the future will pay dividends.”