During last month’s Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Greater Midwest Area Council Conference, hosted in Watertown, our Club was able to recognize a few outstanding individuals for their dedication to youth.

Sheriff Brad Howell was named the Board Member of the Year for the Greater Midwest Area Council. With his dual perspective as a Board Member and law enforcement officer, Brad is uniquely positioned to make a meaningful impact.  His law enforcement experience brings insight into challenges youth may face, such as trauma, poverty, or justice involvement.  As a Board Member, this understanding helps develop Club policies and programs that are responsive, trauma-informed, and prevention-focused.

Scott and Jodi Driscoll were recognized for their 25 years of Service to Youth, not only with the Boys & Girls Club of Watertown, but also for their dedication to the National Boys & Girls Clubs of America “movement.”

Finally, we celebrated Courtney Livingston and his 52-year commitment to serving youth with the Boys & Girls Club of Watertown. Courtney was part of the original charter of the organization and has continued to be a pillar for the work we do.

For more detailed information about Sheriff Howell, Scott and Jodi Driscoll, or Courtney Livingston, continue to read below.

The Greater Midwest Area Council is made up of Boys & Girls Clubs serving youth in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa. This Council meets annually to learn best practices, hear from industry leaders, and celebrate the Club’s achievements for the year.

Sheriff Brad Howell

Sheriff Howell has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Watertown Board of Directors since 2019. Brad is currently the Past Board President and has been a member of the Executive Committee for the past four years. His leadership skills and strategic planning abilities have led our organization to great success.

With his dual perspective as a Board Member and law enforcement officer, Brad is uniquely positioned to make a meaningful impact.  His law enforcement experience brings insight into challenges youth may face, such as trauma, poverty, or justice involvement.  As a Board Member, this understanding helps develop Club policies and programs that are responsive, trauma-informed, and prevention-focused.

One noteworthy role is his work with the Codington County Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) program.  With his guidance, the Club began a Youth Diversion program for County youth offenders approximately 6 years ago. He was on the foundational level of building the partnership between the Club, law enforcement, and the State’s Attorney Office to get the program launched.  As a member of the Council of Juvenile Services within the South Dakota Department of Corrections, Brad has been a direct link to ensuring our Club and County diversion goals align with State goals.  He has advised our County JDAI collaborative group on conditional release policies, juvenile holdings at the Detention Center, and the development of a Court Resource Home in the County. Last year, there were over 400 successful youth diversion cases in the County, meaning over 350 youth were served with a more equitable youth diversion system, youth accountability, positive parent/youth relationships, and a reduction in youth recidivism, have been the driving results of our County Diversion program.

Brad has truly rolled up his sleeves and gone to work for the Boys & Girls Club of Watertown. He is a servant leader and has a big heart in giving back to children and families. In his time on the Board, he has contributed hours and hours of his time and talents.  He is always among the first to sign up, first to say let’s get this done, and first to give positive advice and guidance on the complex issues that arise in operating a non-profit.

Scott and Jodi Driscoll

Volunteering isn’t always easy—but Jodi and Scott Driscoll have turned it into a way of life. Since arriving in Watertown in 2001 as new business owners, they’ve poured their hearts into serving others, making their passion for giving back a driving force in our community.

Jodi began her Board Membership 25 years ago and has proved herself to be an influential pillar within the Boys & Girls Club Movement.  Along with numerous Club leadership positions, on the Great Plains Area Council and SD Alliance Board, and on the Boys & Girls Club of America’s National Area Council Committee.  Jodi is now an esteemed Trustee of the Club.

Jodi has received many accolades from BGCA.  She is a GMAC Hall of Fame honoree, has won the President’s Volunteer Service Award, the Jeremiah Milbank Award and numerous awards on a local level.

In 2016, Jodi served as the Chair of our Open Doors-Capital Campaign fundraising project. She was instrumental in the success of the project. The fundraising goal was exceeded by $1.5 million, much to do with Jodi’s work ethic and drive. Jodi and her husband and business partner, Scott, made a lead gift to the Campaign that kicked off the fundraising efforts for a new, state-of-the-art, renovated Club.

Scott has also rolled up his sleeves on behalf of the Club and has been by her side every step of the way. He is the original partner in our “Support A Child, Win Something Wild” truck raffle, now in its 16th year. Selling 1,000 raffle tickets annually is a testament to the fundraiser’s impact, and the continued partnership with Watertown Ford Chrysler and Bobcat has been instrumental to its momentum.

The Driscoll’s have also served as the signature sponsor of our Annual Block Party, which gathers over 500 people for a family-friendly event.

Jodi and Scott’s passion for serving their community doesn’t stop with Boys & Girls Club, but also reaches the Watertown Ice Arena, Make-A-Wish of South Dakota, Harvest, United Way of Watertown, Junior Achievement, Joy Ranch, and Prairie Lakes Healthcare System. For years, the Driscoll’s have opened their dealership to hundreds of families for Thanksgiving dinner.

Their mission is simple:  to help others experience opportunities never imagined.  The Driscoll’s believe that volunteering is a privilege as well as a responsibility. Jodi says they always get more back than what they give, and she and Scott give back to simply improve the quality of life for Watertown children and families.

We are deeply grateful for Scott and Jodi’s unwavering servant leadership to the Boys & Girls Club of Watertown. Their 25 years of dedicated service have left a lasting legacy of impact, inspiration, and hope. We are proud to honor them with the 25 Year Service to Youth Award in recognition of their extraordinary commitment to our mission and the countless lives they’ve helped shape.

Courtney Livingston

It is a pleasure to honor Courtney Livingston with a Service to Youth Award honoring his 52 Years of Service to the Boys & Girls Club of Watertown. Courtney is truly a cornerstone in the foundation of the Boys & Girls Club of Watertown.

Courtney’s employer in the early 1970’s, Engelstad Electric, encouraged him to start volunteering for his personal service project at the first Club building. Courtney’s tenure with the Club started then and little did he know that he would become a pillar in the organization. He was on the Board during the 1973 charter of the organization, and the rest is history!  Courtney currently serves as a Trustee, but we all know he really has the active status of a full-fledged Board Member.

A few examples of his dedication:

• His stellar Board Meeting attendance – which is 95% and above. Courtney has one of the highest attendance records as both a Board Member and Trustee.
• At the time when the Area Council was struggling in the early 90’s, Courtney worked to rejuvenate the Council following a dormant status. He recalls his work with the Area Council as rewarding and he is proud to have been part of the initiative to build the Area Council to the level of success which it operates in today.
• Courtney was instrumental in developing the 99-year lease with the City of Watertown and was part of three Capital Campaigns that increased our Club facility footprint
• He has held numerous leadership positions with the Club and was a Board Member when the word “Girls” was adopted into the official name of the organization. He favored this transition to support all community youth.
• Lastly, Courtney was inducted into the 2023 class of the GMAC Hall of Fame.

For more than five decades, Courtney has woven his life into the very fabric of the Boys & Girls Club movement. His unwavering passion has shaped not only the organization—but also the countless lives it touches. His presence brings inspiration, joy, and a deep sense of belonging to youth, staff, Board Members, and Trustees alike. Simply put, we would not be the organization we are today without Courtney’s bold vision and steadfast commitment.

Courtney’s remarkable legacy is also marked by thousands of hours of volunteer service, spanning more than 50 years and multiple industries—including the electric sector, business ownership, and insurance. But beyond titles and roles, it is his humble leadership that defines him.  From the military to youth development, education to medical rescue, faith-based to recreational causes—Courtney has invested in people and communities with humility and heart.

He has shown up in every season: through moments of change, times of challenge, and periods of extraordinary growth. His loyalty to the mission and the thousands of youth served is not just a contribution—it’s a story of impact that will live on for generations.

Courtney’s life’s work is a tribute to the power of service, leadership, and love for the Watertown community.