By Rick Griffin

The Boys & Girls Clubs of East County (BGCEC) has announced more than $5.6 million has been raised towards a goal of $9.4 million for its fundraising effort called the “La Mesa Capital Campaign” that includes construction of a new 25,000-square-foot clubhouse on the campus of La Mesa Arts Academy, previously known as La Mesa Middle School.

BGCEC officials said recent donations have been received from the Justo family that owns ASI Hastings Heating, Air and Solar; philanthropic organization San Diego Las Hermanas; the Tipton family; James and Christine Renner, owners of Inland Pacific Commercial Properties; and the La Mesa Women’s Club.

“We’re steadily moving forward and making good progress,” said BGCEC CEO Forrest Higgins. “We’d like to get closer to our goal before breaking ground.”

Higgins said approval for the new clubhouse has been received from the California Division of the State Architect (DSA), the governing body for construction on public school campuses. “We have met the stringent requirements and now we’re shovel-ready from a permitting standpoint,” he said.

In related news, the city of La Mesa recently received a $1.9 million grant from the California Department of Transportation to improve sidewalks, improve traffic circulation and add a high-visibility crosswalk at Lowell Street and Junior High Drive, an intersection leading to the middle school campus and the future BGCEC facilities. The grant also will complete 4.8 miles of bicycle and pedestrian paths linking the west La Mesa neighborhood’s schools, including La Mesa Arts Academy, Helix Charter High School and La Mesa Dale Elementary School to parks, bike paths, transit and other key community destinations. Environmental work is scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2016-2017, city officials said.

The BGCEC’s La Mesa Capital Campaign includes funding for the new clubhouse on the west end of the middle school campus as well as renovations completed last year to an existing teen center also located on the middle school’s property, plus an endowment to operate both facilities.

“Of the $9.4 million goal for the capital campaign, we have received total pledges of $5.6 million plus an in-kind donation in grading services valued at about $200,000,” Higgins said. “So, we have about $3.7 million remaining.”

When completed, BGCEC officials said both the Brady Family Teen Center and Brady Family Clubhouse will serve up to 400 children a day, ages 5 to 18.

Roughly one-third of the $9.4 million goal for the La Mesa Campaign came from Ron and Mary Alice Brady, owners of the Brady Companies, a La Mesa-based construction company specializing in metal stud framing, drywall installation, doors, frames, and acoustical ceilings. In 2014, the Bradys pledged $1 million to renovate the existing teen center, which was renamed the Brady Family Teen Center, along with $2 million to help build a new yet-to-be constructed clubhouse to be called the Brady Family Clubhouse.

“We decide to support the Boys and Girls Clubs because it’s better to build kids than try to mend adults,” Ron Brady said. “We’re proud of the work of the Boys and Girls Clubs. They’re teaching kids the importance of personal responsibility and accountability for their own lives.”

The new 25,000-square-foot Brady Family Clubhouse will be the largest of the six Boys and Girls Clubs of East County. The clubhouse will feature a learning center called The Academy; a full-service kitchen and nutrition center; Little Rascals area for 5-to-7-year olds; and a 10,000-square-foot Bill Walton Gymnasium, named after the famous La Mesa native and former professional basketball player.

“We are appealing to everyone in the community to become involved by adding their name to the Brady Family Clubhouse,” said chairman of the capital campaign and CEO of EDCO Disposal Steve South. “We believe this new clubhouse will be a game-changer in our community.”

South said donations can range from $500 to become a “builder” on the donor wall to $300,000 to fund a game room or playground for young club users. A donor’s name on an outdoor play structure will run $100,000, while $30,000 is being requested for either a check-in counter, set of outdoor bleachers or a director’s office. Sponsoring a backboard or a scoreboard is $20,000, while purchasing office furnishings or equipment for the nurse’s station is $10,000.

“The new clubhouse will be a catalyst to help change the entire western La Mesa area,” said La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis, who also is a co-founder of La Mesa Arts Academy and the director of theater arts at the school as well as director of Peter Pan Jr. Theater and C. Hook Theater. “When the doors open on the first day, the impact on our youth will be tremendous.”

“Our district’s partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of East County and its after-school programs is beneficial to everyone in the community,” said La Mesa-Spring Valley School District superintendent Brian Marshall. “Adding a clubhouse to the La Mesa Arts Academy campus will enhance the education of our students.”

—Rick Griffin is a public relations specialist based in La Mesa. Reach him at [email protected].