STATE SENATOR
Doug McCrory
DEPUTY PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE
LIFTING AS WE CLIMB
- Representing
- Hartford,
- Bloomfield,
- Windsor
Today, state Senator Doug McCrory and state Representative Joshua Hall, members of the Hartford legislative delegation, celebrated the approval of $2.5 million by Governor Ned Lamont and the State Bond Commission to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford (BGCH) to support the major renovation of the Joseph D. Lapenta Northwest Boys & Girls Club.
The substantial investment by the state is a boost for the planned 18,000 sq. ft. renovation of the Joseph D. Lapenta Northwest Boys & Girls Club, which upon completion, would allow the BGCH to significantly expand its programs and services in the northwest part of Hartford. The renovated BGCH is projected to increase its total youth service hours by 30%, or equivalent to 250,000 more hours supporting youth from the neighborhood area.
“The Joseph D. Lapenta Northwest Boys & Girls Club helped raise me into the man I am today and I’m excited to help pass on to Hartford’s youth the same life-changing opportunities I had growing up with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford,” said Sen. McCrory. “The Joseph D. Lapenta Northwest Boys & Girls Club will be a safe, welcoming space for our young people to hang out with friends, get help with their schoolwork, and discover new hobbies and interests. Years from now, countless people will look back at how the facility was a game-changer in their life. I’m thankful to the governor for recognizing the generational impact this project will have.”
“We are extremely appreciative to receive this bond to make renovations to the Joseph D. Lapenta Northwest Boys & Girls Club, helping us continue our mission of serving the youth of Hartford,” said Sam Gray, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford. “Our Clubs provide a safe place for the kids and teens to grow and learn with caring mentors and high-impact programming after school and during the summer.”
“I am pleased that the state has provided funding to support renovations for the Northwest Boys and Girls Club and I am excited for the new opportunities that will be created for our youth. The Boys and Girls Club is a great organization where our youth learn, grow, and become leaders in the community,” said Rep. Hall.
“Renovating the Joseph D. Lapenta Northwest Boys and Girls Club in the Northwest section of Hartford will enable a whole host of new amenities to be provided to young people who live in the area, including new classroom space, a computer center, homework help areas, a gymnasium, rooms for arts and crafts, and much more,” said Governor Lamont, who serves as chairman of the State Bond Commission. “Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford provides so many good services to the community, and I am glad that the state can partner with them on these renovations so they can continue providing their invaluable services for many years to come.”
The Joseph D. Lapenta Northwest Boys & Girls Club is planned to contain classroom space, a computer center, areas to help students with homework, and a learning center. In addition, the facility would be a hub for recreational activities and exercise by hosting a full-service gymnasium, rooms for youth to partake in the performing arts and arts & crafts, and supervised children’s programming at the nearby Cronin Park. Even more, all-purpose areas would be available for use by community groups from the surrounding neighborhoods.
The BGCH serves 10,000 youth per year. The organization’s mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to realize their full potential as caring, productive and responsible citizens. To advance the BGCH’s mission, the organization offers various programs, including homework assistance, their financial literacy Money Matters program, and the youth exercise and healthy eating Triple Play program. According to the BGCH, the youth development organization gives out over 100,000 nutritious meals and snacks per year to the young people in their care. More information about the BGCH can be found at www.bgchartford.org.