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He is reclaiming his title as “chairman,” but this time may be more significant than his last as far as Haverhill’s children are concerned.
Former Rep. Brian S. Dempsey, who served as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, has been tapped to help raise money for a new Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill near the intersection of Route 97 and Interstate 495.
Dempsey, who left the legislature in 2017, will serve as chairperson of the organization’s upcoming Capital Campaign. As WHAV reported first a year ago, the Boys & Girls Club bid $850,000 for a 6.5-acre state-owned property at 393 Broadway. The Club signed a purchase and sale agreement last April. In a statement Friday, Dempsey outlined his vision for the new headquarters.
“The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill has been a cornerstone of opportunity for young people in our city. This new facility will provide essential programs, mentorship and resources to help shape the next generation of leaders. I’m honored to be part of this effort and look forward to working with the community to make this vision a reality.”
Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Javier Bristol said he is excited to have Dempsey lead the campaign, saying, “His leadership, passion for our community and ability to bring people together will be invaluable in ensuring the success of this transformative project for our city.” In a WHAV interview last spring, Bristol discussed the difficulty of housing more than 25 programs in the existing Emerson Street building constructed in 1916.
“Why are we even doing this, as a starting point? I think it’s pretty obvious to the folks that are supporting us now. For those who don’t know, we’ve outgrown space for quite some time. We’re feeding 200 plus kids on a daily basis. Our goal with the new space is to double our impact and see upwards of 500 kids on a daily basis.”
Now with Dempsey at the helm, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill expects to formally launch the capital fundraising campaign in the coming months.
Dempsey is a lifelong Haverhill resident and was first elected to represent Haverhill at the State House in 1991. As chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, Dempsey was credited with bringing tens of millions of dollars to Haverhill in state aid ranging from annual payments on the former Hale Hospital debt and MassWorks grants to help create Harbor Place. The city’s riverfront boardwalk, spanning the entire length of Merrimack Street, was dedicated in 2016 as the Rep. Brian S. Dempsey Boardwalk in recognition of his efforts.
Before joining the legislature, Dempsey served as a Haverhill city councilor from 1988 to 1991, with stints as council vice president in 1989 and president in 1990.
An early conceptual drawing of a new Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill at 393 Broadway, Haverhill. (Courtesy.)