The Boys and Girls Clubs of Lanier broke ground Tuesday on its new Positive Place Club in Gainesville.
Board members, staff, partners and members of the community gathered to celebrate the forthcoming demolition of the original Positive Place Club that has served its members for over 50 years.
“This is our third groundbreaking, which tells you we're in the business of helping young people,” Steven Mickens, Chief Executive Officer of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lanier, said. “And we're going to continue to be in that business because they need us more now than ever. And this building's going to provide an opportunity for young people to come to the club, to be engaged in tutoring activities, to be engaged in positive enrichments and positive relationship building with young people.”
The new, two-story, 25,000-square-foot facility will allow the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lanier to serve even more children in the community, most of which are currently on a waiting list. BGCL also shared the facility will be newly furnished, and have designated space for various age groups the club serves.
The organization expects to demolish the current Positive Place in early September and open the doors of the new facility in early 2025.
“This is gonna allow us to serve an additional 250 kids here in Hall County,” Board President Sean Couch said. “And, when I say to serve more than 250 Kids, what's important to call out to is when folks drive by any of our club sites, with the Boys and Girls Clubs is so well known for our athletics. They see our football fields, they see basketball courts, they see soccer pitches here at the Walters Jet or the Walters Club here in Gainesville. But there's so much that goes on inside the walls that people that drive by never see. It's everything from tutoring, nutritional education, about getting the proper nutrients every day in your meals, and actually also feeding kids inside the clubs that may not be getting the nutrients they need at home. It's developing holistically the larger person.”
Couch added that the new facility will also help the non-profit to serve kids in the community by providing trauma-informed counselors, as well as prepare older members for the workforce through work-based learning opportunities.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, Boys and Girls Clubs of Lanier invited program alumni to share their experiences at the Positive Place Club. Among them was board member Jerome Yarbrough, who recalled the facility opening in 1972.
“I was 12 years old, transferred from the Sycamore Street Club,” he said. ”And at the time, whereas the civil rights movement was in full force, the club welcomed me with open arms. I still remember walking through those doors and couldn't imagine that I was going into such an amazing building for the Boys and Girls Club. And now 51 years later, it's time to upgrade.”
Jasmin Gaudlock, BGCL Alumni and Gainesville Exploration Academy teacher, shared her excitement and gratitude for the program.
“I’m so grateful to them because I know if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be where I am today in life,” she said. “They really helped push me to be successful and do great things in life. Because when I was younger, I had a lot of trials and tribulations that I went through. And I am so excited about the new building because it is so time to hit a new building! It’s the same building I went to when I was a kid. It definitely needs upgrading to meet the needs of today in the community changing in the way things go. So it's very, it's exciting. I'm glad we're doing a new one to help serve more kids and do more great things in the future. “
The Club began campaigning to raise the remaining funds to build the new facility in March. The goal amount to build the facility was set to $10,200,000. Currently, the club has raised 98% of the needed funds to complete the project. Couch shared how the community can help fund the mission.
“Just go to our website, boys, girls clubs.com, make a donation,” he said. “ And we would love to actually have a naming opportunity for you here inside the club. If someone makes a gift that is large, anything above $20,000 will get a naming opportunity permanently inside the club.”
Couch also noted that if one is unable to give monetarily, the club is always looking for volunteers.
“Gainesville, Hall County is prosperous, it's growing,” he said. “And we need to give back to lift everybody up. That's part of this society and community. We want to continue on this upward track. So, continue giving to Boys and Girls Clubs. If you don't have money to give, that's okay. Please come and give your time. Give them your talents. Give them your knowledge. Come volunteer inside the clubs. Come be a part of the movement and help create great, great futures for kids.”
