Vince and Pat Turner – Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County

The Best Kind of Power Couple

“I’m a terrible Minecraft partner—I could play that video game for 20 years straight and I’d still be just awful at it, but if that’s what one of the kids needs from me that’s what I’ll do,” says Goshen’s Vince Turner, a member of the Elkhart County Sports Hall of Fame and a longtime volunteer, along with his wife, Pat, for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County. “For about 20 years I mainly served on the board for the Boys & Girls club, and I was blessed to play a part in a lot of growth; I’ve been involved in five building campaigns, and that’s been very gratifying.

But these days I also spend time as a mentor, working one-on-one with the kids—like my wife, Pat, has done all these years. I spend time with the kids, build relationships with them, talk to them, play video games with them—very badly—and, mainly, I trust them to let me know what they need from me. I also really enjoy helping them get ready for their presentations for the Youth of the Year awards.

My wife is a retired teacher and just an amazing and inspiring connector with the kids. She’ll tell you she doesn’t really do anything, but don’t believe her. She cares so much, and gives so much of herself and her time—my admiration for Pat is endless.

When I started helping out with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County—around the time Kevin Deary, who I knew from Boston, came to the area to serve as CEO—it was just my way of paying it forward.

I was born in Boston and then moved to Southern California and grew up there—then I came to Indiana, kicking and screaming. As a kid I had some really rough patches, and at Columbia City High School a group of adults took me under their wing and just decided they were not going to let me fail. And I had a lot of trouble, but every time I turned around it seemed like there was someone there to encourage me, or help me. Or correct me.

I had a teacher at Columbia City named Jim Thompson, and he told me one time, ‘Vince, you can let your circumstances dictate the outcome of your life, or you can rise above it. And if you choose the latter, I will be with you every step of the way.’ And he meant every word. He was my biggest supporter for 50 years and, throughout my career in journalism and broadcasting, he was my biggest fan.

So for me, the idea of volunteering to help kids; to be an advisor, and a mentor—it’s more than just a nice thing to do. It’s crucial. It can save lives. Pat and I are absolutely dedicated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County. We love family, and we love Notre Dame hockey. You’ll see us at the Compton having fun together and supporting Jeff Jackson and his players. We love all of that. But one of our greatest joys comes from knowing that—together—we give of our time, and of ourselves, to be of service to kids in Elkhart County who need help.”

The greatest joy

“When I first started volunteering for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County it just felt, right away, like it was one of my purposes in life,” says Pat Turner. “I was a teacher, and I’ve always had a passion for helping people—letting them know that they matter to me; that they count, and they have value.

Many years ago, I got very sick and I woke up in a hospital bed; paralyzed from the neck down, hooked up to wires and a respirator. I remember, at first, all I could do was wonder ‘why is this happening’? But then you realize pretty soon that ‘why’ doesn’t change things. I remember thinking ‘what am I going to do,’ and talking to God, and praying for strength. And I’ll never forget, at some point I started getting get well cards from people.

Simple, little cards.

And it may seem like a small thing, but just getting those cards and having that contact from people who cared was so huge for me. It told me I counted. There are a lot of kids in our community, and around the world, who have so many challenges. And they need to hear that they count, that they matter. I know, firsthand, how much it means to hear that.

When we were helping kids out with the Youth of the Year project I was asked to help the kids with speeches and presentations. And I agreed, but it struck me—with his background in media, broadcasting and public speaking—why not bring Vince in to help with this? I suggested it, and that’s when Vince started working one-on-one with the kids, too.

When you know you’re making a difference as a volunteer, it’s not difficult to dedicate your time. In fact, it’s easy. I know that’s true every time a child from the Boys & Girls club comes running up to me to give me a great, big hug.”