Lexington, KY - Just hours after starting his new job, Eric Ward found himself staring down microphones and television cameras to discuss a tough situation teetering on the edge of becoming a whole lot worse. Fortunately for the 51-year-old former Georgetown College athletic director, he was there to share some good news.
Ward was named executive director and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass on the morning of Feb. 4. Later that afternoon, he joined former Big Brother and retired Minor League Baseball executive Alan Stein and board member Leslie Baldwin to announce the financial woes engulfing the organization had loosened up slightly thanks to nearly $50,000 in donations.
The announcement came one week after Big Brothers Big Sisters made a plea for public support and followed discussions by its board to cease operations. Contributions came from throughout the non-profit organization's 13-county area as well as such out-of-state locales as Baltimore, Tampa, Fla., and St. Louis. The funds will go toward maintaining its 11-member staff and the 420 existing matches of boys and girls with older mentors. There is a freeze on producing additional matches until further notice.
"We're very satisfied - short term," Stein said. "We have a significant operation to support here. Of course, $50,000 is a lot of money, but we have a long way to go. I'm only satisfied that we had a good week. We need to sustain that level of commitment and we're committed to doing that."
Big Brothers Big Sisters' woes stem mostly from a former employee forging the organization's checks for more than $430,000. Much of that money has not been recovered, leaving Big Brothers Big Sisters to significantly slash its staff and other expenses across the board.
The recent financial boost does not cover Big Brothers Big Sisters' estimated $60,000 monthly budget, but it's definitely a start toward its goal of $250,000. Officials said that sum will allow the organization to operate somewhat normally until it can sell its 75-acre Ernie Hatfield Youth Camp in Jessamine County. Stein indicated a handful of inquiries had been made during the past two weeks for the property, which he said has been appraised for approximately $700,000. Big Brothers Big Sisters also starts its annual Bowl for Kids' Sake fundraiser this week in Madison County, an event that has traditionally been its biggest money-making initiative. Organizers are hopeful this year's edition will bring in upwards of $300,000.
That's still a dip from an all-time high of nearly $500,000 the fundraiser collected in the past due to the contraction of Big Brothers Big Sisters staffing. And while organizers are optimistic to simply be up and running with the opportunity to even hold the event, they insist operations are "a day-to-day thing." Stein said regular updates would be made to keep the public apprised of Big Brothers Big Sisters' status.
The uncertainty surrounding the organization, however, didn't hamper Ward from aligning with the group.
Ward worked with Stein more than a decade ago when efforts were being made to bring professional baseball to Lexington. Ward went on to serve as Georgetown's AD and co-director of Cincinnati Bengals preseason training camp before stepping down from both positions last year. He is currently an adjunct professor at Eastern Kentucky University while also operating his own college planning and educational consulting business. Ward said he was "perfectly fine doing those things" until Big Brothers Big Sisters announced its situation publicly. He reached out to Stein the following day not necessarily looking for a job, but to how he could help.
"I have enough experience with Alan, that when believes in something and he says he's going to make something happen, he does," Ward said. "But beyond that, Big Brothers Big Sisters is an organization that deserves to exist, that deserves to thrive. The mission is such that we can't let it fail. I just felt like I was in a position right now at this point in my life, I can make a difference by jumping in and doing what I've learned to do over the past 30 years. Ö This is where I'm supposed to be."