Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee celebrate new DeSoto Club

16 September 2019

FCLF and NMTC financing helped make the new facility possible

Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County have opened the newly constructed DeSoto Club in Bradenton, welcoming children and teens – as well as the community – to the new facility with a ribbon cutting on August 26.

The former building was 50 years old, aged and obsolete. The new 37,800 sq-ft club has a capacity of up to 550 daily, and includes a gymnasium, study areas, game rooms, art studios and computer labs. Outside are a covered dining pavilion, basketball court, and multipurpose field. The Club’s programs focus on academic excellence, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles, with a high success rate – 95% of participants graduate on time, with 93% on grade level for their age.

Construction of the new DeSoto Club was made possible in part by Florida Community Loan Fund, with financing through the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program.

Learn more about FCLF and Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee here.
Watch a video with CEO Dawn Stanhope and learn how FCLF is helping this project succeed.

Here are additional articles on the grand opening of the DeSoto Club:

Bradenton Herald: Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County cut ribbon on new Bradenton Center
Herald-Tribune: DeSoto Boys & Girls Club Grand Opening
Bradenton Herald: With new Bradenton facility, Boys & Girls Clubs will serve even more youth in Manatee

Below, Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee ribbon cutting at new DeSoto Club. Photo from Bradenton Herald, Ryan Ballogg.

BGC Manatee ribbon cutting bradenton herald

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