The Impact of Club Staff
Boys & Girls Clubs Alumni Stories
Jerron Wheeler
It had been decades since Jerron Wheeler attended the Baxter E. Luther Boys & Girls Club as a kid. However, during his recent tour of the Club, Jerron was excited to see that his favorite Club staff member, Ms. Hattie, was still there to greet him with a smile. She couldn’t wait to hear about the successful life he had built for himself.
Jerron started attending the Baxter E. Luther Boys & Girls Club (formerly Woodland Acres) as a second-grader after his family moved to the area. A child of working parents, he needed a safe place to go after school and during the summer.
Jerron thrived in both the athletic opportunities and the academic programs offered at the Club. He jumped right into the different programs offered with a special interest in organized sports and any game that fueled his competitiveness – from flag football to basketball, from pool to board games.
One of Jerron’s fondest memories as a Club kid was learning how to ride a bicycle for the first time. He also credits Ms. Hattie with helping spark his interest in school, specifically Black History, and with preparing him and his peers for the real world.
Although Jerron’s Club experience ended when he went to high school, he carried valuable life lessons and memories from the Club into every season of life.
“The Club made a permanent mark on me. There is no me today without the Boys & Girls Club,” Jerron said of his Club experience that helped him build the confidence and courage to go beyond his comfort zone and try new things.
Jerron has gained much success since his Boys & Girls Clubs days, professionally and personally. His family, including his wife Sybil and two sons Caleb and Cameron, recently moved back to Jacksonville, and he now works as an Associate Attorney in the Litigation Department at Foley & Lardner LLP.
Jerron is passionate about giving back to Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida by being a mentor to Club kids and investing in their lives so they can be successful on their own paths. During his recent tour of the Baxter E. Luther Club, Jerron was pleasantly surprised to see the changes and growth of the facility and programs since his days there.
If you or someone you know is a Boys & Girls Clubs alumni, from Northeast Florida or any other Club location, please share your information here so we can connect you with our Alumni Club! Through this growing group, you can connect with other Club alumni and help current Club kids through volunteer opportunities.