About
Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County – Youth Programs offers activities that include JR NBA Basketball League, basketball leagues, bingo, and a Self-Defense & Safety Awareness Program through the Kidsafe Alliance Youth Program. The program also includes swim lessons, a year-round aquatics program, stroke development camp, and fitness swim for youth. The Self-Defense & Safety Awareness Program classes meet on Saturdays from 9am–10am.
• Schedule: Self-Defense & Safety Awareness Program classes meet on Saturdays from 9am–10am
The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County – Youth Programs is to inspire and enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens, with a stated purpose to provide a world-class Club Experience that keeps members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle. The organization serves youth throughout Union County and is supported by a Board of Directors made up of local business and civic leaders.
The leadership team includes Chief Executive Officer Russell Triolo, Chief Operating Officer Brian Phillips, Chief Financial Officer Carlos Calisto, Aquatics Director Yefim Shoykhet, Assistant Aquatics Director Lucero Cano, Youth Development Director – Plainfield Club Deja Bellinger, Union Community Center Director Gemma Samper, Union County Area Director Lita Thomas, Senior Director of Program Services and Teen Services Director for the Elizabeth Club Candace Barnes, Elizabeth Club Associate Director Lakeish Oates, Executive Assistant HR/Finance and Assistant to the CEO Patricia De Castro, Union Club Director Samad Gordon, and Union Club Office Manager Jakeline Barrientos. The Board of Directors includes Chair Emeritus Brenda Williams, Vice Chair Financial Services Wendy Cama, Board Chair Francis J. Purdue, Vice Chair Operations Ed Palmieri, Board Secretary Susan Cannilla, and board members Heather Veltre, Brian Tangora, Antonio Dei Medici, Demond Hargrove, Gene Jannotti, Tenisha Malcolm-Wint, Marcy Metz, Scott Myers, Joi Stanley, and Erica Stasio.
In 2021 the Board of Directors re-named the Union Club the “Russell Triolo Clubhouse.” Russell Triolo has 55 years of executive level experience in the Boys & Girls Clubs Movement, has been Chief Executive Officer for the last 43 years, is recognized throughout the Boys & Girls Clubs of America movement as a visionary leader, and has served on the National BGCA President’s Advisory Committee and the BGCA “GREAT FUTURES” National Commission. Carlos Calisto’s non-profit career spans over 35 years, with the last 30 at Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County. Aquatics Director Yefim Shoykhet has been involved with swimming for more than 40 years, has worked with a variety of age groups from novice to Olympics, has coached over 15 National Junior & Senior qualifiers from the former USSR, and has been working for more than 30 years at Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County. Assistant Aquatics Director Lucero Cano has been a staff member at the Union Club for 23 years. Candace Barnes has been part of Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County since 1998 and has served as an AmeriCorps volunteer and Youth Advisor for the Elizabeth Club. Before becoming Elizabeth Club Director, Lita Thomas was Director of the AmeriCorp program for the International Youth Organization. Patricia De Castro’s work with Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County began in 2011.
The program features a new online parent portal, a JR NBA Basketball League, a year-round aquatics program led by world-class instructors, bingo offered every day with a weekly schedule, and a Self-Defense & Safety Awareness Program through the Kidsafe Alliance Youth Program. The Union Club has been named the Russell Triolo Clubhouse. Lakeish Oates has contributed to the development and upbringing of numerous young people in and around Union County and states that it takes a village to raise a child.
Last updated July 5, 2026.
• Schedule: Self-Defense & Safety Awareness Program classes meet on Saturdays from 9am–10am
The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County – Youth Programs is to inspire and enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens, with a stated purpose to provide a world-class Club Experience that keeps members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle. The organization serves youth throughout Union County and is supported by a Board of Directors made up of local business and civic leaders.
The leadership team includes Chief Executive Officer Russell Triolo, Chief Operating Officer Brian Phillips, Chief Financial Officer Carlos Calisto, Aquatics Director Yefim Shoykhet, Assistant Aquatics Director Lucero Cano, Youth Development Director – Plainfield Club Deja Bellinger, Union Community Center Director Gemma Samper, Union County Area Director Lita Thomas, Senior Director of Program Services and Teen Services Director for the Elizabeth Club Candace Barnes, Elizabeth Club Associate Director Lakeish Oates, Executive Assistant HR/Finance and Assistant to the CEO Patricia De Castro, Union Club Director Samad Gordon, and Union Club Office Manager Jakeline Barrientos. The Board of Directors includes Chair Emeritus Brenda Williams, Vice Chair Financial Services Wendy Cama, Board Chair Francis J. Purdue, Vice Chair Operations Ed Palmieri, Board Secretary Susan Cannilla, and board members Heather Veltre, Brian Tangora, Antonio Dei Medici, Demond Hargrove, Gene Jannotti, Tenisha Malcolm-Wint, Marcy Metz, Scott Myers, Joi Stanley, and Erica Stasio.
In 2021 the Board of Directors re-named the Union Club the “Russell Triolo Clubhouse.” Russell Triolo has 55 years of executive level experience in the Boys & Girls Clubs Movement, has been Chief Executive Officer for the last 43 years, is recognized throughout the Boys & Girls Clubs of America movement as a visionary leader, and has served on the National BGCA President’s Advisory Committee and the BGCA “GREAT FUTURES” National Commission. Carlos Calisto’s non-profit career spans over 35 years, with the last 30 at Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County. Aquatics Director Yefim Shoykhet has been involved with swimming for more than 40 years, has worked with a variety of age groups from novice to Olympics, has coached over 15 National Junior & Senior qualifiers from the former USSR, and has been working for more than 30 years at Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County. Assistant Aquatics Director Lucero Cano has been a staff member at the Union Club for 23 years. Candace Barnes has been part of Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County since 1998 and has served as an AmeriCorps volunteer and Youth Advisor for the Elizabeth Club. Before becoming Elizabeth Club Director, Lita Thomas was Director of the AmeriCorp program for the International Youth Organization. Patricia De Castro’s work with Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County began in 2011.
The program features a new online parent portal, a JR NBA Basketball League, a year-round aquatics program led by world-class instructors, bingo offered every day with a weekly schedule, and a Self-Defense & Safety Awareness Program through the Kidsafe Alliance Youth Program. The Union Club has been named the Russell Triolo Clubhouse. Lakeish Oates has contributed to the development and upbringing of numerous young people in and around Union County and states that it takes a village to raise a child.
Last updated July 5, 2026.
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