In a gym on Fourth Street, elementary school students walk on numbered lily pads, adding numbers and trying not to make a mistake.
The learning game is supervised by Gwynn Powell, an associate professor in the recreation and leisure services department in the College of Education, and her students. She brings her students to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Athens’ Joel E. Smilow Clubhouse every Tuesday afternoon in the fall to give them practical experiences in planning, running and supervising youth activities. In turn, she hopes that the club youth learn teamwork and problem-solving skills and that her students leave a positive impression of college.
Powell’s been involved with the club for about seven years. She says the clubhouse is a place, where “you know good things are happening.”
The Smilow clubhouse opened this spring. It’s a state-of-the-art, 28,500-square-foot facility, with classrooms, computers and a recording studio for teens to learn about the music business. The new center serves approximately 500 Athens youth ages 6-18 after school.
Gwynne Darden, a project architect in UGA’s facilities planning office, has overseen the construction of the new clubhouse since the very early phases. She serves on the club’s board of directors and building committee. She said the job is similar to her position at UGA, and she uses her expertise to complete tasks that range from attending job site meetings with the contractors to picking out light switch locations.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Athens is currently working on the second of three planned new facilities. The new 20,000-square-foot building will be for Athens’ west side and should be completed by the start of the county’s next school year.
UGA sororities and fraternities volunteer with the club. The Athletic Association donates tickets to sporting events. Damon Evans, director of athletics, co-chairs the fundraising campaign. And for the new clubhouse, the Physical Plant and UGA landscape design students helped with the landscaping.
The Boys and Girls Club is one of the many organizations supported by UGA’s annual Campaign for Charities, which ends Dec. 18. The campaign is part of the State Charitable Contributions Program. The online contribution form is available at https://webapps.ais.uga.edu/PBCC/home.seam.
“After being on a board and seeing how difficult it is to raise funds, I have a higher respect for fundraising,” Darden said. “And all the contributions are really, really appreciated.”
