Sixteen everyday champions from across Lake and Porter counties have donned both metaphorical and physical capes to take part in the second annual Clubhouse Hero Challenge, a high-energy fundraiser supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana.
The campaign brings together a dynamic group of community members, all competing to raise the most funds in support of programs that provide local youth with mentorship, education, and a safe place to grow.
“We’ve almost doubled our Clubhouse Heroes from last year,” said Vice President of Philanthropy Denise Koebcke. “These are various community notables, businesspeople, and philanthropists who have connected with the Boys & Girls Club mission and want to make a difference.”
Heroes like these are more than just fundraisers—they’re influencers, storytellers, and advocates. Each day of the two-week campaign, a different hero is spotlighted on social media, sharing their mission and encouraging supporters to give. From friendly “superhero showdowns” to milestone achievement badges, the campaign blends competition with compassion in a way that energizes the community.
“Our heroes volunteer their time and energy, which makes this campaign incredibly cost-effective,” Koebcke said. “Beyond the dollars raised, it shows our kids that people in this community truly care about them.”
Among this year’s heroes is Jervai Dumas, a licensed clinical social worker and lifelong supporter of the Boys & Girls Club.
“I went to the Boys & Girls Club as a child. My children have spent summers there. My husband was involved, too,” Dumas said. “This is a way to ensure children have an opportunity at quality of life—whatever that looks like for them.”
Dumas recalled one of her earliest Club memories.
“One of the fondest memories I can think of is the year-end talent show,” she said. “It didn’t go as planned, we didn’t win, but it taught me confidence and how to process disappointment.”
That kind of real-world learning is central to the Club’s mission. With 10 clubs and 11 Kidstop sites across the Region, the organization offers everything from STEM enrichment to wellness programming, but with decreasing grant funding, events like the Clubhouse Hero Challenge are more critical than ever.
“Our biggest needs right now are day-to-day operations and hiring the best staff possible,” Koebcke said. “We’re also moving forward with two capital campaigns, one for a new Merrillville Club and one for our innovative Tolleston Opportunity Campus in Gary.”
That campus, in partnership with the YMCA and Methodist Hospitals, will serve Gary families with wraparound community services under one roof.
Chris Mahlmann, founder and CEO of GreatNews.Life, is also participating in the campaign as a Clubhouse Hero.
“I spent time with the teens at the Valpo Club and saw how the staff interacted with them,” Mahlmann said. “They treated each other like equals. You can’t fake that connection.”
Mahlmann, a father of four, understands the importance of a grounded place in a young person’s life.
“Every kid should have their anchor, whether that’s home, church, or the Boys & Girls Club. Kids in Northwest Indiana need a place,” he said.
Mahlmann’s strategy is to use every tool at his disposal with support from his Lifer family to help him climb to the top, but to him, the challenge is about much more than just hitting a fundraiser mark.
“I’m using every lifer, every network, every tool we’ve got to raise as much as possible,” Mahlmann said. “My goal is at least $5,000, but I’ll keep climbing. It’s a great cause, so why not give it everything?”
The Clubhouse Hero Challenge wraps up June 8, with results announced the following day. The top fundraiser earns the chance to fulfill a fun promise to their Club, from a dunk tank to a pizza party, but in this challenge, every hero wins.
“As far as we’re concerned, anyone who supports our mission is a hero,” Koebcke said. “America needs club kids and our kids need heroes.”
To support your favorite hero or learn more about how you can make a difference in a child’s life, visit Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana at bgcgreaternwi.org. Every donation helps build brighter futures. Be a hero today.
