Staff Spotlight: Ms. Veronica Pitts — A Steady Presence for Generations at the Taft Club

For nearly three decades, Ms. Veronica Renee Pitts has been a constant at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati’s Avondale Club, known today as the Dudley S. Taft Club. Since October 17, 1995, Ms. Pitts has welcomed generations of young people through the Club’s doors, guiding, encouraging and supporting them along the way. A popular opinion around Avondale is that she’s “raised half the neighborhood.” And after nearly 30 years of service, it’s easy to understand why.

Her journey with the Club started in a simple, personal way. Ms. Pitts was dropping her son off at school one day when he asked about a nearby building. Curious, she stopped in to learn more about the Avondale Boys & Girls Club. Soon after, neighbors mentioned that the Club had an opening for an art instructor. Ms. Pitts loved art and thought it would be a great way to earn a paycheck while staying close to her son. On October 17, 1995, just a week before her birthday, Ms. Pitts began working at the Club. What started as a single role quickly grew into something much bigger.

As the years passed, her son grew too old to be a Club member anymore and eventually moved on. But Ms. Pitts stayed, driven by a calling that became clearer with each passing year.

Wearing Many Hats at the Club

Over the years, Ms. Pitts has worn just about every hat imaginable inside the Club. She has served as an art instructor, program supervisor, program coordinator, physical education teacher and even the Club’s cook. Today, she continues her work as a Program Lead, mentoring youth and helping shape the daily experience for the kids who walk through the doors.

“I loved talking to the kids about what they wanted to do,” Ms. Pitts recalls. “I would just write down their ideas and start building activities around them so the kids were involved in the programming. They liked everything we were doing, and that’s how things started growing.”

A Constant Through Change

Throughout her time at the Club, Ms. Pitts has watched both the organization and the neighborhood around it evolve. She has worked through two major renovations of the facility and is preparing to experience a third as the Taft Club prepares for another transformation later this year. Through it all, she has remained a steady presence.

“I’ve seen a lot of people come and go,” she says. “But I stayed here because of the kids. You never know what’s going on in their lives. I wanted to be someone who was here for them.”

Instilling “Old School” Values

According to Club Director Andre Sigler Jr., that consistency has made a profound impact on generations of Club members.

“I like to call Ms. Pitts old school,” Sigler says. “The values she instills are ones this generation doesn’t always get everywhere else: accountability, structure, discipline, understanding time and communication. Kids come back years later and talk about how those lessons helped them when they were struggling as adults.”

Over the years, thousands of children have passed through the Club’s doors during Ms. Pitts’ tenure. With roughly 100 to 150 kids attending the Club each year, the ripple effect of her influence has stretched far beyond the building’s walls. Many former members now return with children of their own, creating a full-circle moment for the mentor who once guided them.

Growing With the Boys & Girls Club

The Club itself has changed significantly since Ms. Pitts first started. In earlier years, much of the activity centered around open recreation like basketball. Today, the Club provides structured programming, academic support and trauma-informed care to better support young people and their families. Schedules are carefully organized, programs are tailored to different age groups and staff are trained to help members build skills that will prepare them for life beyond the Club.

Through every change, Ms. Pitts has adapted while maintaining the same core philosophy: show up, care deeply and help young people believe in themselves.

A Mentor for the Next Generation

Today she works closely with 5th through 7th graders- a critical age when young people begin forming their own identities and facing new challenges. For many of them, Ms. Pitts is more than a staff member. She’s a mentor, a trusted voice and often a grandmother figure who provides guidance when they need it most.

“She’s helped me a lot since I became Club Director,” Sigler adds. “She knows the community, she knows the families, and she knows what these kids need. People like Ms. Pitts are rare. In the nonprofit world, staff turnover is common. But someone who stays for 30 years? That’s a diamond in the rough.”

Deep Roots in the Avondale Community

Ms. Pitts grew up in Avondale and still lives just a short walk from the Club. That deep connection to the neighborhood is part of what makes the Taft Club such a trusted space for local families. Many staff members live nearby, and the Club has served as a constant in the community since the 1960s.

“I love kids, and I love helping wherever I’m needed,” Ms. Pitts says. “That’s why I stayed. I just wanted to make a difference in their lives.”

Looking Ahead to the Next Chapter

As the Taft Club prepares for its next chapter with a new facility on the horizon, Ms. Pitts plans to keep doing what she has always done- welcoming kids, guiding them through life’s challenges and reminding them of their potential.

“I’m going to keep doing this until it’s time for me to retire,” she says.

For the thousands of young people whose lives she has touched, that commitment has made all the difference. And for the Avondale community, Ms. Pitts isn’t just a staff member at the Club. She’s part of the foundation that has helped generations of kids grow, succeed and find their way.

“I tell my kids all the time, don’t say you can’t do something until you try it. Keep your spirit up and keep growing.”