| Boys & Girls Club to build Smyrna facility |
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By: LISA MARCHESONI, Senior Writer
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Posted: Sunday, August 30, 2009 7:59 am
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Artist's rendering of the new Smyrna Boys & Girls Club.
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Children face growing challenges of drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, single parent homes and rising high school dropout rates.
The two Boys & Girls Clubs of Rutherford County in Murfreesboro and Smyrna address those challenges by offering younger students after school and summer care and teens a safe place to gather after school, said President Kelly Rollins.
“Through our programs, we can impact all of these challenges our young people are faced with today,” Rollins said.
That’s one reason the board committed to fund a second permanent Boys & Girls Club for North Rutherford County students in the Smyrna and La Vergne areas after 13 years of town-owned and rented space.
Groundbreaking for the new facility will be 4 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Culbertson Street and Todd Lane, off Hazelwood Drive in Smyrna.
Former President Mary Esther Reed said the site is located across the street from Thurman Francis Arts Academy and close to Smyrna Middle, David Youree Elementary and Smyrna Primary School. Smyrna West is within walking distance.
“There’s no way it could be in a better location,” said Reed, who is also the town’s vice mayor. “We’re hoping to have the doors open by June 2010.”
The Town of Smyrna donated the land for the site and contributes funds for costs annually.
“The town council sees the benefit,” Reed said.
Presently, the North Rutherford Boys & Girls Club is housed in a 10,000-square foot rented building in Gillsville in Smyrna. The building does not have a gym.
The new 28,000-square-foot facility will include a learning resource center, game room, computer room and gym along with a Teen Center for older students.
“I can’t tell you how excited we are and the kids are waiting for it,” Reed said.
Chief Professional Officer Dan Jernigan said the North Rutherford club now serves about 100 children each day.
“The average could to go up to 400,” Jernigan said. “Overall membership could be around 1,500 throughout the summer, after school programs and sports leagues. The potential there is just phenomenal.”
Because the five schools are nearby, that frees up buses to transport children with the potential to pick up children in other areas like La Vergne.
“Next week is going to be a time of celebration,” Jernigan said of the groundbreaking. “It’s been a long time since the citizens of Smyrna wanted a club and now they will get to see the groundbreaking.”
Reed’s father, Kenneth Victory, is leading the $4.6 million Capital and Endowment Campaign to build the North Rutherford facility and to build a Teen Center at the Murfreesboro facility at 820 Jones Blvd. The Christy-Houston Foundation donated $2 million.
“Even though we haven’t broken ground, we need to raise money to complete the building,” Reed said. “Now more than ever, we need the community’s help in finishing this capital campaign.”
Many community residents donated to the drive because they see the importance of the Boys & Girls Club, she said.
Victory becomes touched by the people who donate, no matter what the amount.
Rollins said the campaign has been successful but “we still have more work to do.
“Our North Rutherford facility is growing to allow us to better serve the ongoing needs of the children that need us most on a daily basis,” Rollins said.
People who wish to donate may contact the Boys & Girls Club at 893-5437 or call Victory at 459-6420.
Reed said the club started 13 years ago as a school project when Smyrna Primary teachers Karla Sartain and Julia Sullivan recognized a need.
“Other than day care centers, we had no after-school care similar to a Boys & Girls Club,” Reed said. “A group of us got together and decided to make it happen.”
They contacted Steve McKinney of the Murfreesboro club, who agreed to add the Smyrna Boys & Girls Club.
The Town of Smyrna donated the first facility on Front Street with the Smyrna Church of Christ partnering with the club to use its facility. Later, the club rented the Gillsville site.
At the club, the children work on homework, activities, nutrition and citizenship in a safe environment.
“They are doing something to make them better, which is going to make them a better citizen,” Reed said.
Rollins said the new facility will allow the club to segregate the children according to age and give the teens their own space.
The board is committed to helping the youth.
“It is a passion of mine and the entire board to continue to stretch out the Boys & Girls Club program to the kids who need us,” Rollins said. “The kids who need us most are from disadvantaged circumstances. We have an obligation to find those kids and offer them a safe place to come after school.”
Rollins is especially concerned about the 10 percent of kids who aren’t graduating from high school. He believes the club can make teens more accountable for their conduct and grades.
Reed said the Boys & Girls Club needs community support.
“We want to make sure the community comes out for the groundbreaking,” Reed said. “This is a huge day for the Boys & Girls Clubs and a huge day for the Town of Smyrna.”
Lisa Marchesoni may be reached at 869-0814 or lmarchesoni@murfreesboropost.com. |
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