TOWN & COUNTRY
JUNE 2018
Kids Helping Kids Milestone
by Ann Marie Ludlow
Georgetown has many
things that put it on the national scene; the billion-dollar SportClips franchise, and our globetrotting green energy Mayor for starters. But over the past ten years, the service organization begun by a group of athletes to help kids in need has grown across the state and now even has a federal trademark. I am talking, of course, about The Locker: Kids Helping Kids. This year, The Locker is in 17 schools across the state, adds new chapters on a regular basis, is celebrating its 10th anniversary and has many milestones to mark the occasion and growth that continues practically exponentially. Chief among the changes that mark the milestone is the new Chairman of the Board, Michael Gebhardt. Michael started out as a volunteer for The Locker when he was a student at Southwestern University. “I was invited to help out at Camp Crosby so I worked the golf station between football and basketball. I
was immediately hooked when I saw the look on kids’ faces when they learned to hit the ball and discovered, potentially, a new life passion.” Michael became Board Secretary while still at Southwestern. Now a graduate with a full-time job at Dell, he is an adult member of the board and is the Chairman. He oversees their quarterly meetings and is a key piece of management and strategies moving forward. "I also enjoy participating in the many activities and events that the Foundation puts on and we're excited to be invited to or benefactors of other organizations who are giving back through The Locker." Founder Karen Crosby says, “What better way to epitomize who we are as an organization? We started in 2008 with a group of kids and five years later became an official non-profit. The growth in our second five years mirrors our early success an we are just going to keep getting better. We are all about student leadership and kids helping kids. Having one of our former
The Locker Board Chair Michael Gebhardt and founder Karen Crosby at their new offices on Dawn Drive in Georgetown. students leading our Board brings us full circle.” The Locker recently held the annual Camp Crosby, introducing kids to new sports, and they are preparing for the annual Tailgate party June 28 at the Georgetown Community Center. While the original mission of the Locker was to provide hygiene products and sundries for kids in need, they have grown to the point that they are able to provide nearly anything a student might need for special milestones and even things that support personal confidence and self-respect. “There are so many things that teens
need for this special time in life to make memories and foster self-esteem. Even if they are not homeless or in critical need, we help with things like graduation caps and gowns, AP testing fees, or even help for a senior trip.” Crosby adds, “It really doesn’t matter what a kid might need. If we can help, we will. We don’t ask questions or require that they demonstrate the need, they just need to ask.” Both agree that The Locker is a win-win for everyone. “Students who volunteer and help out are learning leadership while demonstrating compassion,” Crosby says. “Our
bylaws mandate that our Board include more kids than adults and I am constantly impressed with the discernment and understanding they show when they make decisions.” Gebhardt says, “At 24, I’m acquiring professional skills and a C-level understanding of non-profit organizations but I’m also helping people every day. The combination is invaluable.” Crosby and her daughter Ashley are now employees of the organization but says they don’t market The Locker. “People call us every day because a student has heard about us and they want to start their
own. It’s amazing what this generation feels and how motivated they are to help each other. We just focus on our mission, making it replicable and supporting each school from our Foundation headquarters.” The Locker Foundation is now in its own office space on Dawn Drive and continues to collect sundries and raise money for programs and scholarships. To participate, visit TheLocker. info to purchase a ticket for the Tailgate or donate to the Foundation to help kids help more kids.