On Thursday, September 28, over 100 guests gathered at the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Boys & Girls Club in Arcadia to celebrate the completion of the permanent Clubhouse; an addition of 10,000 square feet to the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Boys & Girls Club on the Smith Brown Campus that will expand youth development programs in DeSoto County. The recently completed state-of-the-art Clubhouse features new classrooms, a technology lab, an art studio, a commercial teaching kitchen, a food pantry for local families, and a multipurpose dining space. The facility will also be available for local use outside of the Club’s operating hours making it a viable community asset. While the expansion brings innovative opportunities to Arcadia’s future leaders in a modern, up-to-date facility, the facility also incorporates tributes to the historic significance of the Smith Brown Recreation Center and local trailblazers, including Coach Richard Bowers. Guests were invited outside for the official ribbon-cutting. Among those present were key supporters, community leaders, and visionaries who played a vital role in the project including Dr. Dean Hautamaki and Eric Kaplan, Co-Trustees of the Louis & Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust. Guests were then welcomed inside for tours led by member “Tour Ambassadors” who proudly showcased each of the Club’s new rooms including; the art room, tech room, power hour homework & reading room, a culinary kitchen, and a cafeteria. The evening concluded shortly after with light bites and refreshments. This fall, the final phase of construction will commence to transform the former temporary Club into The Club Teen Center named The Malcolm Family Teen Center. The Club will be equipped with new technology and furnishings and will offer innovative programming with opportunities for teens to collaborate with like-minded peers in leadership development, improve critical skills, explore career paths, and make plans for success after high school graduation. To date, the organization has raised over $5 million from private donors, foundations, and community partners. Key capital supporters include; A+ Environmental Restoration, Alico Inc, Judith Ammerman Brielmaier, Bucket Fillers, Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust, Hollingsworth Family, Keith D. Monda Family, William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, Sun Bulb Company, James M. Doss Foundation, and The Mosaic Company. Lead construction partners include Halfacre Construction, PGT Innovations, and Hoyt Architects.