Rooted in more than four decades of leadership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the YMCA, Ken Walsh’s work at the Alfond Youth & Community Center (AYCC) reflects a career dedicated to youth development. Over nearly 30 years as CEO, he guided AYCC’s transition to a pioneering model for youth development, as the nation’s only combined Boys & Girls Club and YMCA. Under his leadership, AYCC raised more than $100 million to expand programming, strengthen infrastructure, and ensure long-term sustainability.

His visionary leadership brought bold ideas to life, including iconic Major League Baseball facilities such as licensed replica Fenway and Wrigley Fields, as part of an expansion of their youth camp. These investments not only enhanced recreational opportunities but also created inspiring spaces where young people from around the world could learn, grow, and thrive.

The impact of his work extended well beyond Maine. He played a pivotal role in chartering new Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the state, including within Native American communities, broadening access to critical youth development programs. He also championed cross-cultural youth experiences, building connections with youth organizations in Mexico, Ireland, China, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Colombia.

Baseball has been a consistent thread throughout Ken’s career and volunteer work. He has championed youth baseball initiatives as a board member of the Emerald Diamond Foundation and was honored at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast with the Bronze Youth Ambassador Award for his contributions to innovative youth programs.

Ken and his wife, Suzanne, are the proud parents to two children, Sean and Kate. His legacy is reflected not only in buildings and programs, but in the countless lives he has touched and the communities strengthened through his decades of leadership.