The Foundation for Ripon Community Hospital has donated $150,000 to support the Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area as part of its capital campaign to build a state-of-the-art facility in downtown Ripon. The 30,000-square-foot, two-story complex will include four early childhood classrooms, extensive youth program areas, gymnasium, a performing arts studio and most impressively, a skilled trades center for teens. The club’s goal is to raise $10 million capital campaign goal. “We share a common goal of providing resources to our area youth and their families to help them live a healthy, productive life,” says Shawn Fisher, The Foundation for Ripon Community Hospital executive director. “We know that organizations, like the Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area, offer a safe place to play, grow and learn while empowering them to excel in school, become good citizens, avoid risky behaviors and attend school consistently.” The Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area, which has been operating since 1997, currently has sites in Berlin and Green Lake. These sites have grown exponentially as the needs in a rural community continue to expand. The club’s mission is to improve the lives of children and their families by focusing on academic success, healthy lifestyles, character building and leadership. From offering high-yielding after-school programming and full-day summer care to partnering with more than 26 area businesses to provide teens with real-world job experiences and keeping them on track to graduate through its “Be Great Graduate” program, the club is setting up children to achieve great things. “We’ve seen firsthand how much pride Ripon takes in its community and those that reside there,” says Jason Presto, CEO. “By bringing a club to Ripon, the community is not only impacting youth who live here now, but they are impacting generations to come. They are changing the trajectory of so many youths’ lives and we are excited to be part of that journey as we work together to create great futures.” The Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area plans to open its doors to the public in the summer of 2024. To follow the club’s progress or donate to the public phase of the campaign, visit bgctric.org/followripon or call 920-361-2717. The Foundation for Ripon Community Hospital fosters a giving spirit and continuously seek funding to enhance patient care, improve technologies, aid health care providers with tools to provide exceptional health care and assist the most vulnerable in our community. “Through this contribution, we are able to help support our area youth and to be a part of building our future workers, leaders, and collaborators to continually strengthen the Ripon community and surrounding areas,” Fisher adds.
