Charles Mitchell, Jr. is a 6th grade student at Temple ISD’s Travis Science Academy. Charles is affectionately known as ‘CJ’ amongst his peers and staff at Ralph Wilson Youth Club. CJ has been a distinct member of the youth club for nearly three years. He has developed a reputation for being a ‘yes sir, no sir’ type of kid that carries himself in a very humble manner. Despite his low-key approach, CJ has a true passion for basketball. He can often be found in the gym competing extremely hard against anyone willing to accept the challenge in a game of basketball. CJ’s favorite basketball team is the Los Angeles Lakers and his favorite player is Ja Morant. CJ’s favorite area of study in school is math. When it comes to satisfying his hunger, he prefers to feast on lobster macaroni and cheese. Charles Mitchell, Jr.
AKA CJ is the son of Christopher and Kimberly Olds.
Charles Mitchell, Jr. - 2024 Boy of the Year
is a 5th grade student at Belton Elementary School. Jasmine school or summer without Ralph Club. Her tenure started the day she attend the youth club. Over the five-year span, she has nothing less than exemplary Although she is known for her quiet Jasmine’s high-quality behavior speaks passion for service is evident in her things for friends whenever the presents itself. Jasmine’s favorite areas include the game room and arts When seeking pleasure via food, bacon, Takis or strawberries. Her study in school are math, music education. Jason and Gina Morrow are the proud parents of Jasmine.
Jasmine Morrow - 2024 Girl of the Year
AnnualCorporateMeeting&Dinner
Ralph Wilson Youth Club convened the club’s Annual Corporate Meeting and Dinner on October 24, 2024. For the third consecutive year, the annual meeting was hosted in a transformed youth club gym Over 120 loyal supporters and members of Ralph Wilson Youth Club were in attendance. In what has become a tradition, the youth club showcased our youth over the duration of the evening. Greeting everyone in attendance, praying over the meal, providing the official welcome and reflecting on being a member of Ralph Wilson Youth Club were all done by our amazing youth. Ralph Wilson Youth Club Vice President Steve Brischke recapped the club’s activities for the year and Treasurer Jason Collier provided a financial overview.
The meeting allowed the youth club to recognize our Boy and Girl of the Year, Male and Female Athlete of the Year, Male and Female Coach of the Year, Staff of the Year, and award the President’s Award.
StaffMemberoftheYear
Alyssa Yepma started as a junior staffer four years ago. She was a shy high school student who did very little talking. She started her service at the youth club the summer following her junior year of high school. As a high school volleyball player, her availability was limited due to summer volleyball. Fast forward to today and she is no longer a young lady of few words, and few hours of work. Instead, she is one of the more vocal, committed and tenured members of our junior staff. She has become our go to staff member on all the important tasks and she embodies customer service with a smile. She is always willing to fill in where we need her. Her long lists of can do actions include curbside pick-up, where she pretty much knows every car, working the front desk and checking in members, overseeing practices for sports leagues or coaching a volleyball team. Simply put, Alyssa Yepma embodies what we want from all of our junior staff employees. Alyssa Yepma is our 2024 Staff Member of the Year.
Randy Helcel came to us from West Memphis, Arkansas. He was hired by Don Busby and started work on February 14, 1977. His tenure included overseeing a robust athletics program that included tackle football, soccer, and basketball. He held almost every position in the youth club. At the time of his retirement, he oversaw athletics, transportation, and facilities. Randy worked in the old club on I-35 and at the transition club which was in the old Emerson Elementary. Randy announced his retirement in 2015. In retirement, Randy has continued to serve the youth club in many ways. He drives a bus whenever the club is in a bind and
Ralph Wilson Youth Club’s Winter Wonderland returned for year two this December. The holiday program serves two purposes; to allow youth and their families to celebrate the holiday season in the confines of our youth club and to bring greater awareness to what is offered at the youth club for families that currently don’t attend the youth club. Winter Wonderland experienced positive growth in year two. Over 200 community members attended the event and experienced an amazing time.
The theme of this year’s event was “The Grinch”. The Winter Wonderland provided everyone in attendance with a homemade breakfast and a variety of holiday themed activities for those in attendance. Activities included Letters to Santa, ornament making, cookie decorating, and a photo with The Grinch! Participants left with memories that will last a lifetime.
WinterWonderlandReturnsforYearTwo
FOREtheKIDS!
Over 130 golfers descended upon Wildflower Country Club to support the youth of our community through the 23rd Annual Dr. Ralph Wilson, Jr. Charity Golf Classic. The annual event featured 33 golf teams competing for numerous prizes awarded throughout the field. The Dr. Ralph Wilson, Jr. Charity Golf Classic serves as one of four major fundraisers that support the youth club. Thanks to the team of Sharon, Janice and Maria Wilson, 100% of contributions to the event go to the youth club! This year’s event raised over $61,000 for Ralph Wilson Youth Club.
ExtracoPlayday
Extraco Bank continues to be a staunch supporter of Ralph Wilson Youth Club Thanks to the generosity of Extraco Bank, the youth club can host an end of summer fun day for all the youth that attend Ralph Wilson Youth Club The event provides our youth with access to inflatable playgrounds, prizes, and a meal. Over the course of the year, the youth club embarks on numerous field trips, Extraco PlayDay allows all youth to have access to a very special day on site at the youth club
Spike It!
The young female athletes of our community continue to excel on the volleyball court The program wrapped up its 7th season with the conclusion of the Fall 2024 League. 66 teams and 615 players participated in the 8 & Under, 10 & Under and 12 & Under divisions of play. The benefits of the program continue to show in the overall player development and competition in the program At the end of the Fall 2024 League, 3 champions were crowned for their exemplary play.
Longtime youth club supporter Kim Johnson and her loyal supporters conducted the annual Kim Johnson Cinnamon Roll Fundraiser on December 9. The annual event entails Kim and her crew of bakers coming together to make countless pans of homemade cinnamon rolls, 228 to be exact, that are sold for donations to the youth club. The Cinnamon Roll Fundraiser represents the truest form of ‘made from scratch.’ The sweat equity put into the initiative by Kim and her crew is priceless. Gaining access to one of the precious trays of cinnamon rolls is a tradition in our community like no other. This year’s Cinnamon Roll Fundraiser generated over $23,000 that was donated directly to Ralph Wilson Youth Club to support our youth. These funds go 100% to programming for the youth as the Johnson Family & Company underwrite 100% of the costs associated with baking the cinnamon rolls. The annual smile on the faces of all those that get the precious cinnamon rolls coupled with the smile and tears of elation in the eyes of Kim upon hearing how much the Kim Johnson Cinnamon Roll Fundraiser generated for our youth is PRICELESS.
Kim Johnson’s Tradition of Excellence
a Glance
High School – Lindale High School, Class of 2019 College – University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, B.S. - Mechanical Engineering
What Josh ENJOYS most about working at RWYC
“I enjoy the atmosphere the most. Coming to work every day and having the opportunity to impact kids and interact with coworkers is the absolute best joy.”
Did you know?
Josh drafted the redesign of Lindale High School’s Agriculture Barn.
Joshua Wilson Josh at
Staff Spotlight
Joshua Wilson is a graduate of the University of Mary Hardin Baylor Josh completed his studies in engineering in the Spring of 2024 Josh has worked at Ralph Wilson Youth Club for three years During this time, Josh has served our youth in various capacities ranging from concession operations, recreation lead, check in lead, and pick up coordinator. There are not many kids that attend RWYC that don’t have some sort of relationship with Josh.
During Josh’s tenure, he has served a key role in mentoring our young boys that attend the youth club He has become a constant figure in guiding our youth as they navigate the ups and downs of being a young male. His consistency in how he handles situations is important in establishing and maintaining standards of conduct for our youth.
Josh has also served as a coach in our youth volleyball and basketball programs His ability to bring a group of kids together and teach them about establishing goals and working towards those goals has been priceless for our program.
With the recent completion of his studies at UMHB, Josh intends to pursue a career as a mechanical engineer. He is currently interning at CENTEX Engineering with the goal of joining their staff as a practicing Engineer In Training
Faithful bus driver Linda Price inducted into Hall of Fame
Linda Price has been a huge supporter of Ralph Wilson Youth Club Ms Price retired from coaching after many years, ending her career at Belton ISD. Over the course of the last 8 years, she has served as a bus driver at Ralph Wilson Youth Club to assist in the safe transport of our youth from their respective campus to the youth club. She has also been instrumental in securing philanthropic donations to the youth club. Her service to the youth club will always be valued. However, she has done other great things to benefit others in her lifetime. Ms. Price was recently recognized by her alma mater for her efforts and that of her teammates for their contribution to women’s basketball and women’s sports at her alma mater of Missouri Southern State University. Ms. Price and the teammates from their 1974 team were inducted into Missouri Southern State University Athletics Hall of Fame. The 1974-1975 team was no regular team. The team laid the foundation for women’s athletics at the university. Their inaugural team in 1974 paved the way for women’s sports at the university. Following their innovation to launch the women’s basketball team, the university followed by offering women’s tennis and softball the following semester. CONGRATULATIONS to Ralph Wilson Youth Club’s very own Linda Price on her induction into the Missouri Southern State University Hall of Fame!
78th Annual
Christmas Parade
Ralph Wilson Youth Club participated in the City of Temple’s 78th Annual Christmas Parade. The Christmas Parade gives our youth and staff the opportunity to be a part of a community event that showcases a commitment to the Holiday Season. Staff members invested countless hours decorating a youth club bus. The theme for the youth club’s entry into the parade was The Grinch! The youth club was proud to be a part of the parade.
Halloween at RWYC!
Holidays at the Ralph Wilson Youth Club are always a special time, and Halloween is no exception. After School members and staff enjoyed the holiday together with costumes, a contest and fun! Staff members and youth showed Halloween spirit by donning their best costumes. Staff members also spent the week leading into the holiday decorating doors around the facility, culminating in a contest for “Best Door” voted on through Facebook. Youth were also treated to an individual bag of Halloween goodies to take home that day
United Way of Central Texas continues to impact our COMMUNITY
The United Way of Central Texas hosted the annual Day of Caring project launch at Ralph Wilson Youth Club The annual launch event allows all the various community groups that undertake service projects to meet and launch from the youth club. Event participants are treated to breakfast, a warm up exercise and a program overview is provided by the United Way of Central Texas Board Chair. This year’s event resulted in 34 service projects across the community. Almost 600 volunteers contributed in excess of 2,400 hours of service to the community It is estimated that the value of the hours of volunteering provided to the community equals $80,376. Ralph Wilson Youth Club is proud to be able to partner with a service organization that continues to impact our community in a positive way.
B a c k p a c k
B u d d i e s
Temple I.S.D. continues to ensure that youth in our community have the necessary supplies to be successful as students in our district. The annual Backpack Buddies event provides youth with a backpack that is equipped with key resources to allow our youth to arrive for school better equipped to complete their assignments. Ralph Wilson Youth Club serves as the location where T.I.S.D. families can come to a central location to pick up their backpacks. The T.I.S.D. and Ralph Wilson Youth Club partnership continues to make programming more efficient for students and families
ABackpack wareness
For the second consecutive year, Ralph Wilson Youth Club and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) Occupational Therapy program partnered to educate our youth on the proper wearing of backpacks. Numerous students from the Occupational Therapy program spent a full afternoon educating all youth club members on the proper way to wear their backpack. Youth were instructed on quantity of items in their backpack, how the items are placed and the proper adjustment of the straps. Considering how backpacks are utilized by most youth to carry their school items, ensuring that our youth wear them properly and in a manner that reduces the risk of back injury is of extreme importance. The partnership with UMHB results in a value added experience for the youth of Ralph Wilson Youth Club.
Kirby Johnson Event
Former Temple College men’s basketball coach Kirby Johnson was recently recognized for his service to the college. On November 2, members of the community came together as Temple College named the basketball court that Coach Johnson coached on for so many years in his honor. Kirby Johnson led the Temple College men’s basketball program for 33 years. During his tenure, he compiled over 700 wins. His teams were famous for their frenetic pace of play The event was Tipped Off with Charlie and Kathy Kimmey hosting the famous TC Cook Out in advance of the ceremony. Everyone in attendance to include the teams competing on the day were treated to a hot dog cookout.
It’s because of YOU!
At the core of the existence of Ralph Wilson Youth Club is providing programs rich in quality and affordable to the youth of the Greater Temple Community. The Board of Directors of Ralph Wilson Youth Club set a target amount each year to receive from our Club Champions program. Over the duration of the past four fiscal years, the Club Champions of Ralph Wilson Youth Club have surpassed this targeted amount. The Club Champions program represents a COMMITMENT to fine arts, academics and athletics offered through the youth club.
As the youth club approaches its ten-year anniversary (2025), the Club Champions program will play a huge role in the ability of the youth club to address issues related to the growth and aging of the facility. It is also important that the Club Champions program grows to include the next wave of caregivers for the youth club. Not only do we need our loyal Club Champions to remain committed to supporting the youth club, but we also need YOU to help us recruit new members to our valued Club Champions program.
The tradition of Ralph Wilson Youth Club spans 58 years. Countless youth have benefitted from the experiences of Ralph Wilson Youth Club. Help us keep the tradition alive and well by renewing your commitment to being a Club Champion.
Click HERE to make a Club Champion donation today!
