Alumni Spotlight: Jon “JonJon” Curl

From the Clem & Ann Buenger Club to Cincinnati’s Airwaves

Long before he became the voice that thousands of Cincinnatians tune in to on Kiss 107.1’s JonJon and Friends, Jon Curl was just a kid from Newport looking for a place to belong after school.

For Jon, that place was the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati's Buenger Club.

Growing up in Newport, Jon lived only a few blocks from the Club. During his middle school years, the Club became a regular part of his routine. After school, he would head to the Buenger Club several times a week to play basketball, ping pong, foosball and spend time with friends.

"It was my outlet after school," Jon recalled. "Instead of going to some questionable courts after school, I went there. A lot of my friends from Newport were involved there, and it was a cool, safe haven."

At the time, the Buenger Club facility was still relatively new, something Jon remembers vividly.

"It was brand new. Fresh paint. Fresh court. That made it even more appealing," he said. "We were always looking for places to play basketball and having that facility available was huge."

But what kept Jon coming back wasn't just the gym.

Finding Community Beyond School

Like many young people, Jon faced challenges growing up. School wasn't always easy, and he remembers experiencing bullying during those years. The Club gave him an opportunity to step outside of that environment and build relationships with a completely different group of kids.

"The outlet that it gave me in building friendships that were outside of my normal school circle was really important," Jon said. "It wasn't the same group of kids. There were different kids from all over. It expanded my circle."

That sense of belonging made a lasting impact.

"The bullying thing at school is real," he said. "Sometimes you need a new circle with new acceptance. The Club gave me that."

For Jon, the Club became a place where he could build confidence and discover a community that welcomed him.

"You warm up and it feels like home," he said.

A Game-Changer for Working Parents

The Club also provided something invaluable for Jon's family: peace of mind.

Both of his parents worked, and like many families, they needed a safe place for their son to spend time after school. Jon often walked to the Club on his own, knowing exactly where he was headed each afternoon.

"It was a total game-changer for my parents," he said. "My mom and dad both worked. They knew where I was, they knew I was safe, and they encouraged me to go there as much as I wanted."

Looking back on those days now as a father himself, Jon appreciates even more what the Club provided.

"I have a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old now, and it's hard for me to imagine letting them be on their own the way we were back then," he said. "The Club gave my parents comfort and gave me something positive to be a part of."

Building Confidence for the Future

Today, Jon is known throughout Greater Cincinnati as a radio personality, DJ and entertainer. But he admits that the confident public figure listeners hear every day wasn't always there.

"As a kid, I was in a shell," he said.

The friendships, social interactions and sense of community he found at the Club helped lay the foundation for the career he would eventually build.

"I wouldn't be doing what I do now without those experiences," Jon said. "Being exposed to new kids, new groups and new environments helped me become comfortable interacting with people."

That confidence didn't happen overnight.

"There was always self-doubt," he said. "But having that community gave me something to build off of."

While Jon never imagined he'd one day host a popular radio show, he credits experiences like those at the Club with helping him develop the social skills and self-assurance that would eventually serve him throughout his career.

More Than a Place to Play

Although basketball was his primary focus, Jon believes the Club offered much more than sports.

"It gave me a routine. It gave me friendships. It gave me confidence," he said. "And it gave me something outside of school that I was excited to be a part of."

Today, he sees those same benefits through the lens of a parent.

"Athletics and activity make a huge difference in a kid's life and mental health," Jon said. "When kids are active, connected and involved, they're different kids."

For Jon, the Boys & Girls Club wasn't just a place to spend time after school. It was a place that expanded his world, helped him find confidence and gave him a community when he needed one most.

"It was a great outlet, a great opportunity to expand my circle of friends and build confidence," he said. "It gave me a foundation."

And decades later, that foundation continues to support a career built on connecting with people every single day.