New Boys & Girls Club hits halfway mark in new facility construction

The Madison-Morgan Boys and Girls Club is halfway done with its new $3 million facility construction and renovation project at the Pearl-Burney Campus in Madison.

The Madison-Morgan Boys & Girls Club is halfway done with the new $3 million facility construction and renovation project at the Pearl-Burney Campus in Madison, announced the club this week.

The club is still fundraising for the project, just $151,000 shy of its $3 million goal.

According to the website, a total of $2,849,000 has been raised to date to fund the construction of a new boys and girls club that will accommodate 200 children. The current club’s capacity is only 65.

“We can’t wait to see it finally completed,” said the club’s announcement.

Construction has been underway for months to renovate the historic Pearl Burney Complex in Madison to transform the campus into a state-of-the-art facility for the Madison-Morgan Boys & Girls Club.

“This is the final stretch,” said Bob Mackey, president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Georgia. “The Club has provided many youths with a safe, fun, and educational place. From our summer program to the after-school program, we’re just getting started. We thank everyone who’s supported the Club in any way.”

Leaders of the Madison-Morgan Boys & Girls Club are grateful to the community for rallying around this project, donating money and time to this project that has nearly doubled in cost from its original estimate.

“The initial budget was $1.6 million. Due to inflation, our construction costs have increased to $3 million, which means we need your help more than ever,” said a statement from the club. “While we will be working with our architects to contain costs as much as possible, we need to move ahead with this expansion in order to serve more kids.”

A large chunk of the funds for this project come from a state grant.

“Thanks to the help of the City of Madison, we are receiving a Community Block Development Grant from the state of Georgia for $750,000,” said a statement from the club.

Construction began at The Pearl Burney Complex, formerly Morgan County Middle School, in February 2023. According to the club, “We plan to renovate two existing spaces: one that is currently used by the Boys & Girls Club, and the gymnasium. Then we plan to build a new building, which will connect the two existing spaces to allow the kids to move safely in between. There will be separate areas for younger kids (Elementary school) and older kids (Tweens and Teens), plus Game/Activity Rooms, an Art Room, a Kitchen (for meal prep and learning), a Computer Lab, Mentor Rooms, and a Music Studio. Plus, we’ll have a beautiful new entrance, which (thanks to a donor) will be named in memory of our former Club member, Nick Walker.”

As previously reported in the Morgan County Citizen, “Once completed in late fall 2024, the scope of work will allow the more than 100 students who utilize an old agricultural building behind the Pearl-Burney school as a clubhouse now to have a recording studio, video studio, clean, renovated restrooms, staff space and room for more than 225 students to attend daily.”

“This will become a safe, fun and clean space,” said Mackey.

The Madison-Morgan Boys & Girls Club aims to give the county’s youth a home away from home, providing educational assistance, mentorship opportunities, soft skills development, and loads of fun in a safe environment. Children who participate in the Boys & Girls Club have substantially lower rates of teen pregnancy and drug use, and higher rates of high school graduation.

“The Boys & Girls Club works,” Mackey said. “Of kids who attend our Club frequently, we’ve had 100 percent high school graduation with As and Bs, no teen pregnancies and no disciplinary problems. Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us the most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.”

The community can donate and support the club by visiting: www.bgcncg.com/madisonmorgan-county-capital-campaign. Financial gifts can also be made by contacting Kathryn Cardwell at [email protected].

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