The corporate board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry has announced the upcoming retirement of CEO, Chris Protz. “We are very appreciative for the leadership Chris has provided in building the organization and expanding the services to young people across the Lowcountry. Chris’ commitment to the youth of our area cannot be overstated and we are grateful for his service”” said Hall Sumner, board chair.

After 46 years of rewarding work with Boys & Girls Clubs, including the past nine years as CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry, Protz plans to retire on December 10, 2021. “I am grateful for having the opportunity to serve as head of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry for the past nine years. It has been a great privilege to work with some incredible, dedicated, staff and board volunteers who are so committed to helping young people, particularly those who need our services the most,” Protz said. “Together we have made a huge difference for so many kids.”

During his tenure, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry has grown from five Clubs to nine, extending services from 595 youth per day to over 1,000 per day.

Prior to being named CEO of the Lowcountry Clubs, Protz served in a variety of leadership roles for Boys & Girls Clubs in Memphis, Tennessee, Rockford, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While in Milwaukee, Protz worked directly with Jim Clark, who now serves as president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Clark said, “It's hard to imagine our movement without you, yet I know you will be present in spirit forever. Your leadership has been a difference maker for decades and the hundreds of thousands of lives you have transformed and saved is magnanimous.”

“According to Sumner, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry board of directors has established a CEO Search Committee, supported by Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and will be posting the position in mid-August. The goal of the board is to have the new CEO in place sometime in November 2021, making for a smooth transition of leadership.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry is part of a nationwide movement whose mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. The Clubs provide vital youth development services for more than 2,500 children ages 6-18 in Clubs in Beaufort and Jasper Counties. To learn more visit www.bgclowcountry.org.