Page 43 - BusinessWest February 17, 2021

Education has been a driving force in Bill Parks’s life, and he emphasizes its importance to those he serves.
‘Building Futures’ because that’s who we are and what we do.”
Parks’ professional career with the Boys & Girls Club began in Eastern Mass., serving as executive director for clubs in Billerica and Waltham. Before he joined the Westfield club in 2004, he spent two years with the Jason Foundation, where he helped introduce STEM programs to Boys & Girls Clubs on a national level.
“That small gesture, to make sure I could go back to school, had a huge impact on my life. I’ve never forgotten it, and it’s been a goal o”f mine to always pay that forward.
While he enjoyed the work at the foundation, he missed the interaction with all the staff and families who form the culture of a Boys & Girls Club. He found that again in Westfield, which was, in some ways, a return to his geographic roots, as he was born in Springfield and moved to Marlborough as a young child.
Applying what he’d learned in his earlier executive roles, Parks began to lay out a vision and a course of action for the Westfield club. He also understood that he could not accomplish his goals alone but needed to convince others to get behind his vision.
“One of the things I am most proud of is that people in the community wanted to be part of the vision we had for the club,” he said.
“That small gesture, to make sure I could go back to school, had a huge impact on my life,” he said. “I’ve never forgotten it, and it’s been a goal of mine to always pay that forward.”
By paying it forward through his role at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield — by helping other young people act on opportunities they don’t see as possible — Parks is truly a Difference Maker.
View to the Future
While the story of the marine biologist is inspiring, Parks told BusinessWest, it’s not really about any particular job.
“It’s more important for young people to see the opportunities they have to develop their futures,” he said. “Our latest campaign is called
Congratulations
to the 2021 Difference Makers
Harold Grinspoon
Philanthropist; Founder of Aspen Square Management
Pete Westover
Founder and Partner, Conservation Works, LLC
Janine Fondon
Professor, Bay Path University; Founder, UnityFirst.com
Bill Parks
President, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield
Chad Moir
Founder and Owner, DopaFit Parkinson’s Movement Center
Kristin Carlson
President, Peerless Precision
EforAll Holyoke
From
Your Friends at the EDC
www.WesternMassEDC.com
For information call
Rick Sullivan, President & CEO (413) 755-1300
CONGRATULATIONS
Bill Parks President, Boys & Girls Club
of Greater Westfield
DIFFERENCE
FEBRUARY 17, 2021 43
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