Construction is underway on a new, state-of-the-art Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club at the Steven and Marjolaine Townsend Campus, fueled by a $1,000,000 investment from Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) and a growing coalition of supporters. The facility is expected to be completed in early 2026. Since Hurricane Ian destroyed the original Club in September 2022, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties (BGCSDC) has operated out of temporary facilities. Dawn Page, Vice President of Operations, says the new building will be a game-changer for the region. “To be able to provide this state-of-the-art club with so many opportunities for the families of the Northport area is such a blessing for us, our kids, our members and the community in general.” “This project is a powerful example of what’s possible when a community comes together,” said Phillip Lanham, President and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. “Collaboration has been the cornerstone of every step forward, and we’re proud to work alongside so many dedicated partners to help rebuild the Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club, which will support North Port’s youth and families for generations to come.” For over 25 years, the Club has provided trusted after-school programs and a safe, supportive environment. It currently serves over 250 youth ages 6–18 with award-winning programs focused on leadership, healthy lifestyles and future planning. The new facility will honor that legacy while expanding services to meet growing needs. It will include academic classrooms, a commercial teaching kitchen, a high-tech lab, a teen center, a renovated playground, a recreation pavilion and a health and fitness center—creating a vibrant hub for learning and growth. A food pantry will also be added to serve the broader community. “The pantry is for the community—not just people who have kids in our clubs,” said Page. “What’s really great about pantries is that unlike food banks, where others give out food, people are actually able to come in and look at what's on the shelf, just like grocery shopping. They get to take what’s good for their family and their family’s needs.” BGCSDC President/CEO Bill Sadlo says, “Gulf Coast Community Foundation has impacted thousands of our members over the years, and we are grateful for their commitment as a key partner in this community-wide effort to build a new Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Clubs. As the steel beams are added and construction continues, we inch closer toward providing a safe and enriching space for after-school activities.” The Steven and Marjolaine Townsend Campus is made possible through lead support from the Townsends, Gulf Coast, Jaime and Julie DiDomenico, Atlanta Braves Foundation, Congressman Steube’s Office, Alex Armstrong, Jimmy Devellano, Resilient SRQ, Florida Community Loan Fund’s New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program and additional NMTCs from Truist Community Development Enterprises, LLC. A ribbon-cutting is tentatively scheduled for early 2026.