New $6.8M Tom & Soni Sheehan Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville Celebrates Grand Opening
Writer / Josh Lowe
Photographer / Ron Wise
It was over five years in the making. The Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville was seeing incredible growth in the early 2000s. For years the club was servicing local youth in separate locations: the field house at 1700 Conner Street for its sports clubs and another location for its after school programming. Over five years ago, a vision began to unite these two programs under one local home.
Becky Terry, executive director of the Noblesville Boys & Girls Club, recalls that moment in 2011 when the club began to envision its future home.
“The goal was to get us back on one campus,” Terry says.
The local board soon began planning a vision for how to best serve the youth of Hamilton County. They discussed everything from renovating the existing club or remodelingBecky Terry. Eventually, the board decided that one campus was the best fit.
“We wanted to stay close to downtown,” Terry says. “We believed building here was our best option.”
With this new plan, the Boys & Girls Club set out to continue its mission: ensuring that children have the opportunity to grow and reach their potential.
“The club is here to provide sports and programming in helping youth reach a bright future,” Terry adds.
So the hard work began. The Boys & Girls Club staff were used to fundraising and writing grants to offset the reasonable 45 dollar annual fee for club members. The club receives its funding from special events, local charities, summer camps, facility rentals and through the United Way. Its over 2,100 local youth members benefit from the community’s generosity. “We depend on the community for their support,” Terry says..
And the community again rallied to support this new vision for a single home for the Boys & Girls Club. A team including members of the board, construction workers and local residents worked to design the new facility that would be the club’s new home — the Tom & Soni Sheehan Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville. Soon, a capital campaign kicked off and raised the $6.8 million in funds needed to break ground.
“Our board really knocked that out of the park and got us to our goal,” Terry says. Shovels finally hit the ground in February of 2017: five years after the initial vision.
“It took some time but it really fell into place,” Terry says. “We are just so thrilled with the support the community showed us. It’s so inspiring to see how our community is ensuring that our youth are successful and empowered.”
The new Tom & Soni Sheehan Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville recently celebrated the opening of its new center in a special ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 19. The new facility for after school programming is connected to the field house, which houses basketball, cheerleading, volleyball and other leagues and sports opportunities. Everything from cooking classes, tutoring, leadership training, art, drama and more is offered in the new space.
The new location also features something that the old location did not: a green space. Now, with the help of the local Ladies Auxiliary, youth can enjoy football, kickball and a new playground.
Other additions include a cafetorium where kids receive a free, healthy snack and meals on Mondays and Thursday nights. A music room is stocked with instruments and the healthy lifestyles room allows members to exercise and meet with a personal trainer. Finally, the new building features a performing arts stage for dramatic productions.
Terry is quick to give credit to local organizations like the Elks Rotary, Ladies Auxiliary and local churches for their fundraisers and volunteers.
“It’s fantastic for these organizations to come in and be part of our family,” she says. “The Boys & Girls Club has been a staple in town over the years for its programming. We really want people to know about all the wonderful things we’re doing.”
Visit bgcni.org to learn about sports and club opportunities or to volunteer. The Tom & Soni Sheehan Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville is located at 150 North 17th Street.
