25-Year Nonprofit Veteran Brings Deep Chicago Roots and Proven Youth Development Track Record to the Organization
Off The Street Club today announced the appointment of Maurice Fears, Sr. as its new Executive Director, effective August 3, 2026. Fears brings more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience – including multiple executive roles at major Chicago-area youthserving organizations – to Off The Street Club, a youthcentered nonprofit in West Garfield Park.
Off The Street Club provides hope, opportunity and guidance so that disadvantaged youth in Chicago and its nearby suburbs can unlock their full potential and grow
into confident, capable and compassionate leaders.
“Maurice is precisely the kind of leader Off The Street Club needs now and into the future,” said Betsy Holden, President of the Off The Street Club Board of Directors. “His track record of building strong organizations, developing robust partnerships, and driving positive outcomes, and his relentless focus on kids is outstanding. We are confident Maurice will lead our organization into its next chapter with vision and purpose.”
Fears joins Off The Street Club from The Children’s Place Association, a Chicago nonprofit focused on helping families build stronger foundations by addressing challenges such as poverty, limited access to healthcare and community safety concerns. There, as the organization’s first-ever Chief Operating Officer, Fears co-managed an $8 million annual budget, overseeing operations, technology, strategy and program execution.
Fears’ signature leadership accomplishment was the creation and launch of Child Thrive, a
community-centered program that delivers comprehensive support for children and families. At the heart of the initiative is a diverse coalition of stakeholders convened by Fears. That group includes schools, business leaders, nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers and community residents, each focused on the unique needs of Chicago’s West Humboldt Park community.
Under Fears’ leadership, Child Thrive has benefited hundreds of children and families and expanded from serving a single school to supporting three schools in just four years.
Prior to that role, Fears served three years as Executive Director of the Kelly Hall YMCA branch of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, where he led a center serving more than 3,000 members and families annually. There, he secured the highest fundraising total in the history of the Kelly Hall YMCA.
Fears began his nonprofit career at the Greater Joliet Area YMCA. Over the span of 17 years, he rose through the ranks from Program Director to Associate Executive Director to Executive Director. In that final role, he reversed multi-year budget deficits, doubled membership in less than three years, and led a youth development portfolio that produced a 100 percent high school graduation rate and 92 percent college matriculation rate among program participants.
As a native Chicagoan, Fears grew up utilizing after-school and park programs. And that, he says, influenced his choice of careers.
“I have dedicated my career to young people and helping them manage and, in many cases, change the trajectory of their lives,” Fears said. “Everything about Off The Street Club, including its 125-year history, the strong support of donors and volunteers, the experienced and dedicated staff, and the many ways the Club serves the kids and families of the West Garfield Park community and beyond, aligns perfectly with my life’s work and my passions. I’m honored to lead this organization and excited about the opportunities ahead.”
Fears is an active member of the Chicago civic community, serving on the board of the West Humboldt Park Development Council and is a member of the City of Chicago’s Invest Southwest initiative.
Off The Street Club partnered with KEES, a leading executive search firm specializing in nonprofit and public sector leadership, on the search for a new executive director. Noting that the search process attracted a highly talented and diverse pool of candidates, Betsy Holden said, “We are grateful for the extensive effort put forth by the KEES team, led by Heather Eddy, President & CEO, to find us such a qualified candidate who is an ideal fit.”
About Off The Street Club Off The Street Club (OTSC or “the Club”) is Chicago’s oldest boys and girls club and is located in West Garfield Park, one of the city’s most challenged and under-resourced communities.
For 125 years, OTSC has been a safe, steady, and unwavering presence for children throughout Chicago growing up amid poverty, gang activity, and limited access to opportunity. The Club’s long history is rooted in deep community trust and generational impact.
To learn more, please visit: www.offthestreetclub.com.
