CHAMPAIGN — The Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club has new officers following the resignations of four board members, even as the United Way re-examines its funding for the financially stressed agency.

The Don Moyer board met Saturday and chose Toney Tomaso, who stepped down as board president this spring after a two-year term, to resume that role effective Monday.

Other officers are Mark Ritz of BLDD Architects, who was chosen as vice president; Ryan Fleming, assistant vice president at Commerce Bank, named secretary; and Mark Czys of Martin Hood Friese and Associates, who will remain as treasurer.

Tomaso replaces Jane Solon, who resigned last week along with Vice President Cathy Rector, Secretary Kevin Yonce and board member Tara Swearingen, a past president.

Rector and Yonce last week declined to say why they were resigning, with Yonce calling it a "difficult situation." Solon and Swearingen could not be reached for comment.

Rector said only that the board members "became aware of some issues and didn't feel our concerns were given the proper consideration" and that the club sometimes "goes in a direction we aren't comfortable with."

Tomaso and Ritz on Monday would not discuss specific reasons for the resignations, citing "philosophical differences."

The agency has been under financial duress for several years, with declining state funding, staff layoffs, program cuts and the imposition of a summer program fee last year for the first time. Fundraising has also fallen short this year, with lower than expected totals for the annual Steak and Burger dinner, a golf outing and Youth Investment Fund.

"I think what makes it difficult for any organization in this economic climate — there are decisions that have to be made because finances are so tight," Ritz said.

"That's where the differences stem from. What are the services we provide? What can we afford to provide? Not everyone agrees on how to get there."

Tomaso said the stress of dealing with the club's finances wasn't the only factor in the resignations.

"It was across the board, on many different facets," he said.

Meanwhile, the United Way of Champaign County is re-evaluating its funding for the club because enrollment has dropped off significantly this summer. Overall, the club receives $157,000 from the United Way annually, plus about $46,000 in designated donations, officials said.

The funding will be extended for the next 60 days while the United Way works with Don Moyer staff and board members to "develop a realistic plan for serving youth that would be acceptable to both organizations," according to a United Way statement issued Monday.

The statement said the club is an important partner in providing after-school and summer programs for children, teens and their families. But like other human services agencies once heavily funded by the state, it's experiencing financial difficulties that have hampered its ability to fulfill its contract with the United Way, the statement said.

United Way Vice President Sue Grey said the funding was based on the club providing services to a certain number of children every day.

"They're seeing fewer kids, and I think part of that is that they are charging a fee for the service," she said.

Families are asked to pay $300 for one to two children, and $500 for up to five children, for the entire summer. Last year, the United Way provided money for scholarships for families that couldn't afford to pay, but that wasn't available this year, officials said.

Enrollment has fallen from 167 children last summer to about 100 this year at the Park Street and First Presbyterian sites, said Executive Director Andre Arrington. He blamed the drop on the fee and negative community reaction to the layoff of key staff members.

Tomaso said the fee was one of several measures taken by the board to "keep the doors open."

The board realized it might be a hardship for some families, but the alternative is possibly shutting down the program, he said. Some children are at the club from early in the morning until late at night, so the fee is relatively "nominal," he said.

"We reached out to the community and tried to raise the funds that we need to run the program and keep the summer hours open and operational. The money just wasn't there," he added.

He said the United Way review was expected, given the change in circumstances.

Tomaso also said the four people who resigned were on the board when those decisions were made.

"We all knew going in that this was a possible outcome. We were all hoping for the best," he said.

Grey said she understands the board's decision, given the financial challenges.

"They need revenue because they have lost so much state funding," she said. "It just seemed like we needed to make sure that we had a clearer picture of the direction that they were going."

She emphasized the United Way wants to work with the club to preserve the programs. "What happens to those kids if they're not at the club?"