Boys & Girls Clubs opens Teen Center at Park Meadows Community Club
The Floridant/10342389

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Floridant -- Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County dedicated The Club Teen Center, a new space reserved exclusively for members 13 and older to collaborate with their peers, complete homework, socialize and plan for their future.

The Club Teen Center, in partnership with Suncoast Credit Union, is a 2,600-square-foot addition to the Park Meadows Community Club, the nonprofit's flagship location in Fort Myers. The club serves youth ages six through 18, but The Club Teen Center designates space for teens who participate in the After-school Program and Summer Enrichment Program.

Community leaders, project partners, donors and Boys & Girls Clubs board members joined teenage club members on July 1 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and formal designation.

"This Teen Center is about preparing the next generation of leaders, employees, entrepreneurs and community members," said Denise Gergley, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County. "Here, our teens will build friendships, develop confidence, strengthen leadership skills, explore career pathways, prepare for college and gain real-world workforce skills through Boys & Girls Club programs like Youth of the Year, Career Launch, Diplomas to Degrees, Money Matters and many more."

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The Club Teen Center features sofas, tables, chairs and homework stations, as well as a kitchenette, restrooms, televisions and charging ports. The new space can accommodate guest speakers from the community and become a hub for Boys & Girls Clubs' robust college and career readiness programs.

Suncoast Credit Union Foundation donated $300,000 to fund The Club Teen Center, which was built by Seagate Development, through Boys & Girls Clubs' Park Meadows Capital Campaign.

"They're driving kids to make sure that they have postsecondary success, whether that's going to college, becoming an entrepreneur or enlisting," said Jeffrey Kunberger, executive director of the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation and a board member for Boys & Girls Clubs. "We hope it drives their imagination to think big."

"Take advantage of this physical space, take advantage of the symbolic representation and take advantage of the collective strengths of the adults who support you," advised Jennifer Cupid-McCoy, chief strategy officer for The School District of Lee County and a Boys & Girls Clubs board member.

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In addition to The Club Teen Center, the Park Meadows Community Club also features kid-centric amenities like the creative corner, academic center, STEM room, game room, culinary center, innovation hub and other interactive gathering spaces. Over the past year, Park Meadows has added a covered outdoor playground through GL Homes' Passion for Playgrounds initiative and a "Dream Court" basketball court sponsored by Nancy Lieberman Charities. Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County also will be receiving a state appropriation to construct a hurricane-resistant pavilion over the new basketball court.