Jon Risdal & Family

Jon's Donor Story

A Legacy of Giving & Positive Change

For over 25 years, Jon Risdal has been a champion for young people in Springfield through his deep and ongoing involvement with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield. His journey began in the late 1990s, when a friend invited him to get involved—and he’s been making an impact ever since.

Turning Vision Into Action

Throughout his decades of service, Jon has played a key role in expanding the Club’s reach and resources, helping build multiple Club units and school-based sites. 

But one vision has remained at the heart of it all: a dedicated Teen Center.

“In the time I’ve been on the board, we built the Stalnaker unit, the O’Reilly unit, the Henderson unit, and several school-based sites,” Jon recalls. “But in the back of our minds, we always had a Teen Center in the plan.”

That long-held dream is about to become a reality. In just two months, Springfield’s first-ever stand-alone Teen Center will open its doors—an inspiring milestone years in the making.

A Transformational Gift

After selling a business a few years ago, Jon saw a unique opportunity to turn vision into action. “Rather than pay Uncle Sam all the taxes, maybe it was time to start the Teen Center,” he says with a smile. His transformational gift—paired with critical public support from the city and county—helped launch the project and bring it to life.

But for Jon, it’s about more than bricks and mortar. “To me, it’s really important that this isn’t just the Boys & Girls Club’s Teen Center—it’s a Teen Center for Springfield,” he explains. “We want all teenagers in town to feel like this is a great place to come and hang out.”

The Final Stretch

As we enter the final stretch of our $12 million capital campaign, we are just $1.5 million away from crossing the finish line. This campaign doesn’t just fund construction—it includes two years of operating reserves to ensure the Teen Center is not only built, but built to last.

A Legacy that Lasts

Jon’s motivation is personal. Raised in a small Iowa town, he knows how much a safe space and a trusted mentor can mean in a young person’s life. “Everybody’s had problems—nobody in the world that I know of hasn’t,” he says. “But a lot of kids, when they get down, that’s when they’re really vulnerable.”

Because of Jon’s generosity and leadership, thousands of teens in our community will have a space to learn, grow, and belong. As we look ahead to the Teen Center’s grand opening this August, we invite our community to join Jon in helping us finish strong—and create a legacy that will shape generations.

“I just love kids,” Jon says. “I want them to be happy. And I want Springfield to be a better place when we leave it than it was when we found it.”

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