Q&A with Dan Hebel

Dan Hebel currently serves as CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac. Having worked with our local youth community for the last 21years, Dan strives to provide the resources that his team needs to execute their focus of creating meaningful experiences and opportunities for youth that help them reach their fullest potential. Thank you, Dan, for the dedication and care you continue to give to Fond du Lac’s youth, and for helping make a difference in our community. (Make sure to read all the way through for a real hit-home statement from Dan!)

What does a typical day or week look like for you?
I spend most of my time working with the people that execute our mission every day, which starts with our incredible group of leadership team members and extends to our Board of Directors. Some days I focus heavily on fundraising and building relationships. Other times I focus on financial responsibilities of the organization. We are constantly working to identify needs for the youth we serve and exploring the best ways to meet those needs.

What inspired you to work with children or teens?
I have always enjoyed the hopeful nature of youth and how little they actually need to be content. Seeing the growth of many of the youth who have come through the Club over the last 20 years is what has kept me coming back.

Is there a moment or experience that reminds you why your work matters?
There are moments every minute we’re open at the Club: a member who couldn’t wait to get to one of our locations to celebrate a good test grade with a staff that helped them; an enthusiastic smile and THANK YOU from a member who goes through the line during our afterschool or summer meal program, sincerely thankful for something to eat; the vulnerable approach of a teen member struggling with their mental health or their home life.

What part of your work are you most proud of?
I am proud to lead an organization that does things the right way and for the right reasons. Over time, we have assembled an astute and dedicated team of professionals and volunteers that will stop at nothing to make a positive impact on the lives of youth. I still get visited by Club youth who I worked with from 2005-2008. They come in and share stories about their lives, introduce me to their kids, ask for advice and more. I hope every Club kid knows they can always come back and share their lives with us.

What does the Fond du Lac community mean to you?
Fond du Lac is home. I grew up here, then left for college in La Crosse. Fortunately for me, the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac saw something in me and hired me in January 2005. I didn’t know it then, but it was the launching point to a career and the re-creation of my long-term homestead. I have been incredibly fortunate to grow along with this community over the last 20 years, and I am thankful that my wife and I have had the opportunity to raise our kids in this community!

How does the community support your work with youth?
Thanks to the generosity of so many, we are able to do so much for kids in Fond du Lac! We are nothing without the people who make this work possible. Countless participants, donors, supporters and partners have created what has become a fixture in our community. Donors continue to invest in what we do because they see the impact all over our community. The Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac is a true product OF Fond du Lac!

What do you wish people better understood about working with youth today?
Most kids today aren’t set up well for success. While parenting and home life are a significant part of it, there are more pitfalls than ever for kids, and navigating the first 18 years of life is full of things that can trip them up. The average youth in America needs several avenues of access to caring adults to help them avoid falling into societal traps. Organizations like the Boys & Girls Club help to provide a positive, supportive environment that can offer additional support to so many youth who need it most.

What do you hope young people gain from your guidance or support?
I hope they know that the Club will always be there for them. Regardless of how successful or how troubled their past, present or future is, I hope they always know that they can walk into our doors and have someone to talk to. We serve kids, but ultimately, we work to build communities!

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I most seek out down-time! I enjoy golfing and spending time with friends and family. As my kids have grown, I have found significant joy in watching them compete in sports. I have watched and coached many baseball, football, basketball, cross country and track events over the years. It’s a constant reminder of my purpose at home.

Do you have a favorite place, activity, or tradition in Fond du Lac?
Gilles Drive In is a staple. Not just for the food and unique service, but also because I worked there from 1997-2001. That place just screams FDL to me and represents what is best about our community. Fruth Field, Lakeside Park, Buttermilk sledding hill and countless baseball diamonds give me cause for nostalgia for the past.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the community?
True impact doesn’t always show itself in grandiose examples. Rather, it hits you dozens of times in small ways every day. That’s how I know our mission really matters.

Too often, Fond du Lac is it’s own worst enemy. People tend to pay too much attention to what we aren’t. It’s time to get out of our own way and celebrate what we are instead! This community is incredible…let’s start taking credit for it!