This article was originally written in 2018, and is being re-shared now as Jeff Wilson has been recently named the 26th President of our Board of Directors.
Jeff Wilson
President, Board of Directors
My history with the camp dates back nearly three decades, when a highly respected mentor encouraged me to get involved with this very special program. My father, whose career was built leading major foundations and non-profit organizations nationwide, also provided encouragement. I did not know until years later that he was well versed in the humble success and “miracle” of the Pyles program, also having many mentors in his professional and personal life who were long supporters of the Camp. Now, many years later, and being involved in dozens of other non-profit organizations, I firmly believe there is no other organization that delivers the profound and immediate impact on the families served by The Pyles Camp, as demonstrated by over 28,000 youth who have had their lives positively impacted, and perhaps even saved, since the Pyles Camp was founded in 1949.
I consider it an honor to serve on the Pyles Camp Board, and I am in awe of my fellow board peers who represent a diverse mix of community and business leaders. Their passion for the camp leads them to travel many miles at their own expense for our meetings, always leaving their professional accomplishments outside the Board room. The legacy governance mantra that guides the Board’s leadership has always been simple; “It’s all about the boys.” Our Board members could be supporting causes with much more glamour and visibility, being toasted at black tie events among celebrities and dignitaries. But our board is driven by pure pride in being part of a dedicated family, having seen the hardened eyes of a new and uncertain camper turn to smiles, and often tears around a campfire. And they know that as camp ends, campers link the arms of new friends who will create a lifetime of memories, bonds and lessons to carry forward taking personal responsibility for improving the lives of themselves, their families and their communities. Our board also includes Camp alumni such as our dedicated and passionate Chair “Spider”, and an amazing young board colleague “Wolf”. Both came from “the streets,” and are walking testimony to the program’s powerful impact and pathway to success, leadership, higher education, compassion, selfless service and civic engagement.
Jeff Wilson and other members of the Board of Directors hiking near Pyles Camp in 1999
Our staff is lean and immensely focused on improving the lives of the youth through this time- tested program. Many counselors are previous campers. They all are driven by the rich history and legacy of the Camp’s impact, joining decades of staff leaders who have served as surrogate parents, big brothers and sister, role models, and lifelong family mentors. And, as a credit to the breadth of the Pyle’s camp reach, the program is powered by a network of hundreds, if not thousands of volunteers. These volunteers represent law enforcement, school districts, social service agencies, small and large businesses, civic organizations and an army of people both new and old to the Pyles Camp family who annually “own” a wide range of tasks from building cabins, repairing water lines, piloting helicopters, preparing meals, and tirelessly organizing many little things that, in total, add up to one giant miracle called the R.M. Pyles Boys Camp.
While the Camp “dares boys to become men,” I invite you to join this very special family of supporters, volunteers, leaders and funders as I guarantee the program’s life-changing impact will have an immediate and positive impact on yours as well.