Community Corner
A.G. Gaston Boys And Girls Club Breaks Ground On New Clubhouse
The $7.2 million clubhouse will be located at the Birmingham CrossPlex and will serve twice as many children as the previous building.
BIRMINGHAM, AL - Big things are happening at the Birmingham Crossplex, and one new addition - a clubhouse for the A.G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club - broke ground this week. The $7.2 million clubhouse will be able to serve twice the number of children than the building it is replacing.
A report by Alabama News Center said the groundbreaking event Wednesday included Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, who has a vested interest in the project, being a "club kid" himself. Also on hand was Alabama native and former U.S. Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice.
Rice, who co-chaired the campaign to build the new clubhouse for the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club along with Altec CEO Lee Styslinger III and Regions Financial Corp. Chairman Grayson Hall, said those who contributed to the new clubhouse initiative have demonstrated they make children a priority.
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“This is about the possibilities when a community comes together,” Rice said. “It’s absolutely the case that when the corporate community and private citizens like the McWanes and people from across the city come together and say, ‘We’re going to do something special for our kids,’ something magnificent happens.”
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The new facility will include a new gym, a music room, a game room, a new café able to serve hot meals and STREAM (science, technology, reading, engineering, art and math) labs. The two-story facility will have a floor dedicated to teens and will be able to serve twice as many children as the Kirkwood R. Balton facility.
“I believe in the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club because I know it’s power,” Woodfin said. “It’s a training ground to guide our young people in the right direction. It’s where they will make lasting friendships, make community connections and acquire life lessons that will serve them well when they become the next leaders of our city.”
Photo by Michael Tomberlin/Alabama News Center
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