I have been blessed to work with Lenna and Ed as a member of the Boysville Board for the past 10 years. They are true professionals in every respect. Their hearts flow out to every child that resides at Boysville. As a result they have untiringly applied all their knowledge to insure the maximum development and best placement for thousands of children in need.
The most impressive part of their leadership has been in the area of responding to the needs of the children. Under their leadership, the emergency shelter was born and has been the first line of help for children in need. Realizing that sibling groups would have to be broken up, Lenna took on the challenging task of achieving infant and toddler certification for Boysville. As a result, there have been many sibling groups able to reside together on the campus. Lenna also anticipated the need for a foster care program on the campus to serve full sibling groups and the success of that program has now expanded into a community based foster program. Another most impressive achievement has been the post high school – transitional living program that has placed many young adults in college and vocational programs.
The bottom line is that Lenna and Ed have kept Boysville dynamic in change to lead the trends of what children at risk need. Additionally, it is the culture of excellence and caring and teamwork that Lenna has created that has put Boysville a notch above other child care organizations.
I will truly miss the wonderful stories about the children of Boysville that Lenna and Ed so richly tell at Board meetings – they are always inspiring and motivational. I will miss both Lenna and Ed as excellent role models and as humble caring people who have always put the children of Boysville first for so many years.
I wish them both the very best in their future endeavors.
Dave McIlvoy