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by Weldon B. Johnson

The Republic/Azcentral.com

Mindy Elias wanted to be a teacher but wasn’t crazy about the idea of only having her students for one year. 

She found a way to have a longer-term impact on the lives of children , however, as she went to work for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley.  Elias is now branch executive of the Compadre club in Chandler. 

Her passion for her work and dedication to improving the lives of children got the attention of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.  Elias, 35, was named one of 40 Hispanic Leaders Under 40 by the group.

“I received the phone call from the chamber and was just thrilled.”  Elias said.  “I knew I was nominated, but to be selected as one fo the top 40 is such an honor.”

Elias has been involved with the Boys and Girls Clubs of most of her life.  She was a club member before taking a part time job with the organization when she was 16.  After five years of part time job eventually turned into a career and she has been working for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley for 10 years. 

She said she majored in Education at Arizona State University but thought she could make a bigger impart on kids’ lilves through the club than in the classroom.

“If we get them at 5 and they stay until they are 18, I could make an impact over the course of time,” Elias said.  “As a teacher, you unfortunately only get them for a year.”

Elias said she has seen that scenario play out as some former “club kids” who are now adults stop by to visit.

“What has been a driving force for me, especially since I’ve been around for so long, is to see kids come back and tell us they graduated from college or have joined the military or just talk about what an impact we’ve made in their life now that they’re grown,” Elias said.  “That’s my driving force.  I don’t always get the thank-you’s everyday from the kids, but I get them as the kids grow up.  That makes all the difference.”

An East Valley native, Elias is a graduate of Corona del Sol High School in Tempe.  When asked if she has children of her own, she jokes that she has a couple hundred.

“I get to play the mom role with many, many of my kids if they need me at a parent-teacher conference, if they need a ride to the doctor’s office or any of those things,” Elias said.  “They take up enough of my time right now.”