Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos (BGCSM) has received a $200,000 lead gift commitment from the Walter J. & Betty C. Zable Foundation to launch its Building Great Futures Capital Campaign.

The gift from the Zable Foundation also comes with a matching challenge. In addition to the $200,000, the Zable Foundation will match contributions from other donors dollar-for-dollar up to $125,000.

The funds will be used to help purchase furniture, equipment, computers and other items, as well as provide operating funds for the new Clubhouse to open at 413 Autumn Drive in San Marcos.

“With the help of the Walter J. & Betty C. Zable Foundation, we are launching a $1.5 million capital campaign to transform an empty concrete space into a welcoming and exciting Clubhouse that will have an immediate and lasting positive impact on the San Marcos community for generations to come,” said Cathy Baur, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos.

According to Warren Magill, the Autumn Drive Clubhouse project is a perfect fit for the Zable Foundation. “Promoting programs that benefit youth, particularly youth that don’t have access to resources and support systems, was very important for Walter and Betty,” said Warren Magill, President of the Walter J. & Betty C. Zable Foundation. “The Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos is creating a state-of-the-art Clubhouse where youth will have all the tools and support they need to build a bright future.”

The Autumn Drive Clubhouse will be located in the Richmar community; a neighborhood the City of San Marcos has worked hard to lift up from its past as one of the oldest and poorest communities in San Marcos plagued by crime, drug and gang activity. The Autumn Drive Clubhouse is in the heart of this revitalized neighborhood, which now features attractive and modern affordable housing units and mixed-use buildings, creating a walkable and safe community.

The City’s commitment to the revitalization included providing the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos a $1 per year, 30-year renewable lease and $1.2 million of additional funding to help pay for the tenant buildout to open a second San Marcos Clubhouse. That funding was made possible through the City’s recent allocation of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA).

In addition to the support from the Walter J. & Betty C. Zable Foundation and City of San Marcos, BGCSM has also received a $100,000 Neighborhood Reinvestment Program grant award for the project from the County of San Diego’s District 5, recommended by Supervisor Jim Desmond.

The need for a Boys & Girls Club in this neighborhood is critical. More than 500 youth live in Richmar’s affordable housing complexes. Nearly 80 percent are being raised in single-parent homes where the average yearly income is below $31,250. Every elementary student in this community is reading below grade level, according to school reports.

“We have an opportunity to make a profound and positive difference in these children’s lives. The new Club will offer a safe space where youth can form meaningful relationships with others and find their identity through involvement in our nationally acclaimed programs,” said Baur.

The new Autumn Drive Clubhouse will provide youth with safe and engaging spaces that will help them build bright futures. Planned spaces will include:

• Game Room: The heart of every Boys & Girls Club, the game room will include pool tables, air hockey, foosball and more.
• Performing Arts Area: This area will enable youth to explore their creativity with a stage, lighting, and state-of-the-art sound system for performances.
• Maker Space: Youth will have access to tools, equipment and supplies that will encourage and foster curiosity, discovery and learning.
• Tech Center: Access to technology will help youth to complete schoolwork and gain skills for their future careers.
• Demonstration Kitchen: Kids will learn how to cook healthy and nutritious meals and snacks.

Construction of the Clubhouse will begin in July and is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

For more information on the Building Great Futures Campaign and Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos, visit: www.boysgirlsclubsm.org/building-great-futures

About Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos

Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) youth development organization whose mission is to inspire and enable all young people to become productive, responsible and caring citizens. Today, we serve more than 4,000 San Marcos youth ages 6 to 18 years old with programs and services provided at the main Clubhouse, as well as after school programming at 12 school-based and community sites. We give children what they need most during the critical hours when they are out of school and away from parental supervision: a safe environment where they can have fun and be themselves, adult role models who respect and listen to them, and engaging, constructive educational and recreational activities that channel youthful energy into challenging and productive pursuits. Our vision is to provide a world-class Club experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who comes through our doors.