Kevin McNally COPYRIGHTED I’m a firm believer in personal responsibility. I grew up thinking everyone had loving parents and a good education. 88 | november <strong>2019</strong> | www.<strong>Atlantic</strong><strong>Ave</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.com
egulars | city people by diane feen | Photo by Melissa korman A Gentleman For All Causes Kevin McNally has Florida roots that go as far back as some of the trees in Delray Beach. His grandparents moved to Miami in 1941 and started their family on US soil after an unfortunate incident. “My grandfather was a senator in Puerto Rico and one day he was standing next to the governor and a sniper aimed at the governor but shot my grandfather,” said McNally, who moved to Delray Beach 27 years ago. The shooting incident pushed the Serrallés family firmly and squarely into the Miami terrain. It also changed the trajectory of their lives. Kevin’s father Gene met his mom June and they moved to Miami. It also enabled Kevin to go fishing with his grandparents (on their boat) and imbibe their philosophy that life should be joyful and positive. But young Kevin took this mantra a little too literally. “My parents were concerned about me in high school because I used to get together with my friends and pull pranks. We had fun.” To make sure their son got a proper education – and upbringing, they sent him to a Catholic Benedictine Boarding School in Rhode Island. There he had to wear a sport jacket and tie to classes and meals, attend school Saturday mornings and was only allowed a half hour of TV a night. To some this might have seemed draconian, but McNally grew to love it so much that after going home, one year later he returned. “I missed my friends at boarding school – it matures you to live like that.” The coat and tie - and structured upbringing - may be precisely why everyone says that McNally is a perfect gentleman. And, in a world that’s as expandable and retractable as silly putty, it’s nice to meet someone who is steady, sturdy and loyal. When you ask around about McNally you will hear he has a big heart and rolls up his sleeves and gets things done. That is precisely why the Achievement Centers for Children & Families chose him to be their board president. McNally joined the board of ACCF in 2013 and in 2017 he was elected board president. It has been a spiritual and philanthropic match made in heaven. “Kevin is a leader who offers authenticity, vision and a collaborative spirit. I thoroughly enjoy working alongside him and if it were up to me, he would have a lifelong tenure on our board. He truly cares about the community and the people in it,” said CEO of ACCF Stephanie Seibel. Seibel is correct. McNally is dutifully connected to ACCF and is concerned about the longevity and strength of its leadership and board. One of his concerns is that “a lot of people drive by and see we are here, but they don’t understand our impact on the community.” McNally has a point. It is easy to spot the red and white sign that stands on Lake Ida near Congress. But what people may not know is that they provide education, childcare, meals and snacks, early learning, after-school programs, summer camps and family strengthening programs. Children as young as one (and teens) are welcome, while parents gain access to financial and health counseling, mental health and crisis specialists. McNally didn’t understand the need for organizations such as these before he was firmly ensconced in the working world. “I’m a firm believer in personal responsibility. I grew up thinking everyone had loving parents and a good education. But when I owned my own business, some people I hired really wanted to do the job but were unable to because they lacked a high school education and family support.” It was then that McNally realized the importance of teaching children basic social and academic skills. “Our early learning programs set the foundation for lifelong learning. This funnels into our after-school programs where children get homework help, play, music, art, dance team, horseback riding and much more!” McNally wants everyone to know that in addition to helping over 900 children and families a year, ACCF is also one of the cities large employers with a $4.9 million annual budget and 100 employees. But to this mild-mannered gentleman shouting to the rafters is not in the cards. Instead he is steady and thoughtful, kind and supportive of friends and fellow board members. He is also on the ACCF Foundation board to ensure the organization is in good financial stead with longevity. To make sure his own life runs smoothly McNally finds peace and solace doing yoga (in the wee hours before work) and doing underwater freediving. His goal is to go down 200 feet without taking a breath. So far, he has reached 132 Feet. It may sound a little risky, but then so does not having a TV (like McNally). His career started out in sales but blossomed into something as steady as McNally himself - counting cars for municipalities and private engineering firms. He started Traffic Survey Specialists 25 years ago despite the fact that his major at University of Florida was Soil Science. McNally is the kind of guy who lives in the present but often contemplates the future. That’s why he is genuinely concerned about the future of the Achievement Centers. “We need to start thinking about young board members that recognize the challenges of the future and can grow with the organization. We have an amazing board now, but we won’t be here forever.” But for now McNally is here – happily residing in downtown Delray. He supports local charities and enjoys fishing, but his heart belongs to ACCF. “Kevin is passionate about making Delray a better place, and it shows through his commitment to the Achievement Centers. He’s generous with his time and resources; is dedicated to planning the organization’s future, helping the kids and their families, working on operational matters, raising funds, building the board and more,” said friend Elizabeth Kelley Grace. For information about ACCF https://achievementcentersfl.org COPYRIGHTED www.<strong>Atlantic</strong><strong>Ave</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.com | november <strong>2019</strong> | 89
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