New Boys & Girls Club Built to Dream Bigger for Youth Futures

TL;DR Summary

On June 26, 2025, Ripon celebrated the grand opening of its new Boys & Girls Club, a 40,000-square-foot facility built to serve children and teens with licensed daycare, a skilled trades workshop and spaces designed for learning, healing, and growth.

The ribbon cutting brought together youth speakers, donors and community leaders to honor a decade-long journey of fundraising and collaboration. The Club serves as a model for rural youth development and a safe haven for future generations.

A Place to Dream Bigger: Ripon’s New Boys & Girls Club Opens Its Doors

On June 26, 2025, the Ripon community gathered to celebrate a milestone that was years in the making: the ribbon cutting of the new Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area. The event wasn’t just about opening a building, it was about opening doors to possibility, healing and hope for generations of children and families.

With nearly 200 people in attendance, including local leaders, donors and youth speakers, the ceremony marked the beginning of something extraordinary. The new 40,000-square-foot facility is now a place where kids can feel safe, supported and inspired to dream bigger.

A Vision Realized

The Ripon Club is one of only three in Wisconsin to feature a skilled trades workshop and the only one in the state to offer licensed daycare, a teen employment center and a full-service Boys & Girls Club on one campus.

It’s a space designed with intention: from the drive-through drop-off for safety to the commercial kitchen serving hot meals, every detail reflects the Club’s mission to meet kids where they are and help them grow.

The facility also includes a gymnasium, laundry, dance studio, locker rooms, and technology resources, making it a hub for academic support, healthy lifestyles and character development.

The Heart Behind the Build

The ribbon cutting was filled with stories that underscored the Club’s deeper purpose. Youth of the Year speakers shared how the Club made them feel safe, comforted and loved, offering a sense of belonging that helped them heal from generational trauma.

Donors spoke candidly about why they gave. One recalled learning that for some kids, the Club was the only place they could shower or wash their clothes. That realization led to a donation that helped fund laundry facilities.

Another donor shared how their family’s investment was rooted in a belief that today’s support leads to tomorrow’s success. “We knew that a Boys & Girls Club in Ripon was the way to go,” said Mary Lyke, who helped lead the fundraising effort. “It inspires and enables children to reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.”

A Community Effort

The Club’s journey began with a small steering committee in 2015 and grew into a $14 million campaign supported by over 200 donors. From local families to regional businesses, the outpouring of support was a testament to Ripon’s commitment to its youth.

The Club’s CEO, Jason Presto, called it “a place where kids can come and learn, have fun, eat, make friendships and relationships and have positive adult relationships.” But he emphasized it’s so much more than that: it’s a place where futures begin.

Looking Ahead

The Ripon Boys & Girls Club is already making an impact, and its story is just beginning. With a $2 million endowment and a nationally recognized board, the Club is poised to become a model for rural youth development across the country.

As one speaker put it, “Nothing can stop a community full of loving, giving souls from leaving in Ripon a legacy of caring for our own - and for generations of children to come whom we’ll never meet.”

Key Takeaways

💙 A Safe Haven: The Club offers a place where kids feel safe, comforted, and loved, often for the first time.

🚀 Building Futures: With a skilled trades workshop and teen employment center, the Club prepares youth for real-world success.

🤝 Community-Led: Over 200 donors and local champions made this dream possible through years of fundraising and advocacy.

✨ National Recognition: The Club’s board and leadership have earned state and national honors for excellence in youth programming.

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Date: Summer 2025 | Author: Tracy Lisowe

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