The Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County (BGCNC) today announces that Joseph Pratt, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer, has decided to retire effective May 15, 2025.

Pratt joined the Club in 2014, turning around the organization from only five fulltime staff, a declining membership and a $250,000 deficit to now an employer of twenty-five fulltime staff, serving more than 2000 members a year and an operational budget of $3.5 million.  Pratt steered BGCNC to be the first after school childcare program on Aquidneck Island to achieve the top 5 star rating from BrightStars. 

Under Pratt’s tenure, BGCNC achieved significant milestones including: 

• Diversifying the business model – growing earned revenue, government revenue and diversifying philanthropy 
• Growing impact – serving more youth and stronger quality programs based on evidence based and informed methodologies 
• Building partnerships and collaborative work – Working Cities, Reading Reaps Rewards Summer Learning, school partnerships with Middletown High School, The Met School and Rogers High School, and swim programs in both Newport and Middletown
• Investing in staff – raising compensation and adding benefits to make work attractive as a career, 401K, professional development; adding staff roles for family outreach, SNAP nutritional assistance, MSW a Master’s licensed social worker and bi-lingual services
• Investing in facilities at three locations– Camp Grosvenor, Central Clubhouse and North End Clubhouse 
• Quantifying independent quality assessments; ACA American camp accreditation, BrightStars; NYOI National Youth Outcome Initiatives

Pratt’s vision and service to the community started early, he grew up at BGCNC as a club kid and later a camp counselor. His commitment to the mission and the community was exemplified in 2020 in reaction to Covid 19.  Pratt was able to work directly with the State of RI Department of Human Services and RI Department of Education collaborating with regulatory agencies to protect and reopen and was the one of the first to be approved to reopen and to open for summer camp.  During that time, he led the organization frugally keeping the families and our kids at the forefront and pivoting daily operations as guidelines and restrictions continued to change.  

‘Joe and the BGCNC have been great partners over many years.  From his leadership of our Working Cities Initiative to helping to attract resources to our communities to benefit our families.  Joe and the BGCNC have always been willing to work collectively to make life better for our residents.” Rhonda Mitchell, Executive Director of the Newport Housing Authority 

Beyond local and state work, Pratt was appointed by CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), Jim Clark, to the National Planning Commission developing the Future Ready strategic direction for the BGC movement and served on the National Advisory Committee to BGCA’s CEO. Pratt served as Chair of the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce in 2022 and 2023.

In alignment with the long-term strategic plan for BGCNC, Pratt has embarked on a comprehensive expansion and restoration to the Central Clubhouse at 95 Church Street in order to serve more youth. The goal is to transform the Central Clubhouse into the “Best in Class” facility to expand the Club’s place in the community and to meet its demands. 

 “I am incredibly proud of everything we have accomplished at BGCNC and I am confident in the organization’s future. It has been an honor to serve as CEO, at the Clubs’, said Pratt.  ‘With our campaign on the cusp of topping our $15 million goal and the construction to begin, the Club is poised for transformational growth.”  Pratt continued, ‘I’m most proud of the staff who consistently deliver high quality programming to our youth, especially those who need us most!’

“We are deeply grateful to Joe for his invaluable contributions over the years,” said Mary Lou Cavanaugh, Board Chair. “His leadership and strategic direction have shaped BGCNC into the thriving organization it is today. Joe’s dedication, passion & commitment to our kids, their families and the community has been unwavering. He leaves a legacy of bringing people and agencies together for the greater good of serving the youth and families of Newport County.”

The Board of Directors has engaged BGCA CEO Search Services to lead a national search and will be led by a Search Committee consisting of board members and community leadership. An Interim Executive Director will soon be on-boarded and will work closely with Pratt during the transition period to ensure a seamless leadership handover.

‘The BGCNC is financially strong with a dedicated board, staff and volunteers.  We will embark on a national search to identify the right individual to lead us as we embark on the construction of new facility to match our high quality programs.  We have a great team of talented professionals in place and appreciate Joe providing ample notice.’  

Pratt shared, ‘We are fortunate to have dedicated board members and a community of wonderful donors and friends who share our passion for and commitment to our mission!’   The Future is indeed bright for our youth!’

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The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need help most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.  For more than 67 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County has provided quality programming and services to all youth in the community. The Club is part of a nationwide movement of more than 5,000 Boys & Girls Clubs, and provides services to more than 2,000 youth annually. ###For more information, contact the Boys & Girls Clubs, 401-847-6927 or visit our website at www.bgcnewport.org