Handley's attitude is what Boys & Girls Club is all about

Staff photo

 
By Kelvin Portillo, Correspondent

The Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley is an after-school club responsible for providing the next generation a series of academic and athletic programs, ranging from taekwondo to arts and crafts, in an enriching environment. The mission statement is to help the youth reach their full potential to be model citizens through their resources and mentorship.

It’s a place where guidance breeds future leaders, and the Menifee chapter is no exception. Their dedicated staff is at its core a unified front; however, one notable staff member is responsible for a huge part of their success -- Unit Director Sam Handley.

With a combined 37 years of experience, including six years working at the Menifee club, "Mr. Sam" has a nearly lifelong history of fostering children and teenagers to be their best selves. His kind demeanor and values has made him a positive role model for others over the decades, and the passing of time has not deterred him from fulfilling his duties.

“Every day I’m with kids, and what I bring is a positive relationship with them,” Handley said. “With that brings structure -- organized chaos, as I like to call it. Be positive, fair, but firm.”

Handley has additional rules for his 25 or so staff members, such as staff members be engaged in order to make an impact and having safety as the number 1 priority. Nevertheless, he treats everyone with the same respect and kindness. Handley’s leadership is that of a surrogate father -- someone you can expect to lend you an ear with no hesitation. By the same token, he’ll shoot hoops with you if challenged.

Handley grew up alongside his more than dozen brothers and sisters in Hartselle, Alabama. He lived in a house overlooking the woods and his childhood was spent with his siblings, which over time helped him to find the joy within people through the highs and lows of his life.

His credentials include coaching. He worked in Desert Hot Springs from 1984 until 2000, and then worked at a YMCA in Highland for a number of years after. Although he currently works at Menifee Boys & Girls Club, he hasn’t forgotten the kids he has mentored throughout the decades everywhere.

“If I can remember them, it’s through their eye color. I can remember them because there’s a lot behind their eyes,” said Handley.

Handley has numerous stories of past kids or teens coming up to Handley as adults, thanking him for the kindness and mentorship they imparted from him. In fact, he has received numerous letters and hundreds of comments from people thanking him on Facebook.

His coaching style, much like his mentorship, is based on treating people like family -- because to Handley, his career is his family.

“I think Boys & Girls Club is a pillar for the community [of Menifee] and a good foundation of a good family,” he said. “I wouldn’t change my career. It’s been very rewarding. Some of my best friends are people I coached. At one point, I coached three generations of a single family … It’s good to see the excitement on their faces every day.

“Boys & Girls Club is not a babysitting service, for those who may not be familiar with what we do. We provide lunch, extracurricular activities, shelter, sports, etc. for anyone in need or for anyone returning; we love to see those faces, and it’s been quite hard during COVID. With this, I fell in love through the kids … I often get told [in later years of a child’s life] that ‘you saved us,’ but it’s the other way around. They saved me."