Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County recently named Thomas M. Kirchhoff as the organization’s new chairman of the Board of Directors. Robert B. Dunkin, II, who served in the role for the last two years, passed the gavel during a ceremony held September 30 during a Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County Corporate Board meeting and will continue to serve on the Board of Directors.
“I am continually inspired by the profound impact the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County has on its members,” said Chairman of the Board of Directors Thomas M. Kirchhoff. “It is both an honor and a privilege to serve as Chairman of the Board for an organization that does so much to transform the lives of youth in our community.”
Kirchhoff is the principal of Kirchhoff & Associates Architects in Jupiter, Fla. Raised in Philadelphia, Mr. Kirchhoff graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1981 and established his firm in 1994. He has served on Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County Board of Directors for nine years and is an avid supporter of its mission to ensure that all youth reach their full potential.
“I am deeply committed to developing and improving program quality, expanding and facilitating access for kids across Palm Beach County. My vision is to ensure that every young person who walks through our doors can not only hope for but achieve success through the education, training and mentorship programs the Clubs provide,” said Kirchhoff.
During his two-year chairmanship, Dunkin successfully guided the organization through extraordinary times due to the pandemic. His leadership ensured that no Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County staff members were laid off during the crisis. The Clubs were among the first to reopen after lockdown to allow for a safe space for the children of first responders and essential service workers. During his tenure, the Clubs also transformed into high-tech classrooms to provide a safe location for distance learning. The organization’s Hunger Relief Programs also dramatically expanded to provide healthy food to Club members and their entire families when many were unemployed due to the pandemic.
“Without Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County and the leadership of Bob Dunkin as chairman, the 10,000 children we help annually would likely not have been provided the same high-quality programming at the Clubs or additional family assistance during the pandemic,” said President & CEO Jaene Miranda. “It was a pleasure working with Bob during this difficult time, and I’m certain the organization will continue to expand and increase our footprint in the community with the leadership of the new Chairman Tom Kirchhoff. I look forward to the future and being able to increase our ability to help as many children as possible.”
During the past two years, Kirchhoff and Dunkin worked closely together by more than doubling the regular board meetings so that the organization could be nimble and quickly react to new obstacles created by the pandemic. The passing of the gavel was seamless for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County due to their close working relationship and dedication to the organization’s goals.
“Tom has been instrumental to our success for the past several years and brings a wealth of experience to the table,” stated Dunkin. “As chairman and now working on developing initiatives for the 50th anniversary of the organization, Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County is fortunate to be well guided for a sustainable future.”
