Boys & Girls Club outlines early community center uptake; city announces $1.515M foundation grant
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Summary
Boys & Girls Club and city recreation staff reported initial community center usage (about 110 visits in four weeks, 46 enrolled, average daily attendance 19), programming plans, and confirmed a Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation grant of $1,515,000 and a separate $30,000 AT&T award for technology.
The city of Gonzales and the Boys & Girls Club reported early usage figures and programming plans for the new Youth Innovation Center, and staff announced foundation and corporate grants to support equipment and programming.
Boys & Girls Club representative Jose Monan told the council that in the first four weeks of programming the center saw about 110 members visit, with 46 enrolled through completed registration forms, an average daily attendance of about 19 and a weekly average of about 88. Attendance trends show higher participation on Thursdays, which staff attributed to school minimum days.
"Of the 110 members, we have, in person, orientations for the parents," Jose Monan said, describing bilingual orientations and outreach at schools and library events.
City recreation staff Jessica Almeida Alvor outlined the city-run schedule and outreach steps: staff posted flyers, staffed tables at the library grand opening, used utility bill stuffers and the city newsletter, and coordinated with Fairview Middle School and Gonzales High School to reach students.
Julie Douglas described programming offered in the first month: a guitar class (about 20 signed up), drop-in art, engineering and woodworking activities, daily snacks and plans for case management and a college and career readiness program. She said the club hopes to add monthly themed activities and to offer transportation to regional events such as the Girls Health Summit.
Council members praised the early uptake and offered volunteer tutoring support. The mayor and council also heard two funding announcements: staff reported a Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation grant of $1,515,000 to help equip the community center, and a council member announced AT&T awarded the city $30,000 through its Birdies for Students program to buy technology and podcasting equipment.
No formal action was required on the presentation; council members encouraged follow-up reporting and asked staff to return with an update later in the year about enrollment, utilization and budget impacts.
