The new Boys and Girls Club of the Capital City building, to be constructed on the Lincoln University campus, will be named after a deceased Jefferson City couple.
While the club will keep its title, the 18,000-square-foot facility will be known as the Frank and Billie Railton Center. Stephanie Johnson, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club, made the announcement during a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday that attracted nearly 200 people, including 50 of the club's children.
The Railtons, who had no children, left a trust fund at Hawthorn Bank designated for charitable contributions. Frank Railton was the former chairman of the bank and his wife, Billie, was a teacher in Oklahoma. The couple also gave to the Etta and Joseph Miller Performing Arts Center, resulting in the Railton Gallery.
"Although they had no children, with their contributions to the Miller Performing Arts Center and now the Boys and Girls Club - the second donation "coming from the heavens,' the Railtons are doing a lot for a lot of children," said David Turner, chairman and CEO of Hawthorn Bank.
Johnson was the first to speak about a "gift from the heavens," referencing the land on which the new building will sit at Lincoln University. She gave thanks to Kevin Rome, Lincoln University president, for his role in bringing the club to the campus. With approval from the Lincoln Board of Curators, the university deeded the land, located on Lafayette, to the Boys and Girls Club.
"He always says that I give him entirely too much credit because he just does what is the right thing to do," Johnson said. "Well, you don't give yourself enough credit because I don't know where we would be today without you and this incredible opportunity that is truly a pilot for all other Boys and Girls Clubs and universities across the country."
Rome, who grew up as a Boys and Girls Club member in his hometown of Columbus, Georgia, said he didn't put much thought into offering campus space after understanding the club's need.
The old facility at 727 E. Elm St. had to be torn down for the Lafayette interchange project. The club needed space and the university had it, he said.
"What I really had in mind was the children, and it was important to keep them in the community and for them to be exposed to a university that will give them something to aspire to," Rome said. "We hope that every child who participates knows that higher education is an option for them. And, not only an option for them, but a choice - whether they choose Lincoln University, another university or whatever program they choose. To know that education is possible in their future is incredible. That's what we hope to accomplish by having them on this campus."
The mother-son team of Donna Westhues, a prominent community member, and Dan Westhues, senior vice president of retail banking at Central Bank, led the Light the Way Home fundraising campaign, acting as co-chairs. On Nov. 17, 2014, the club kicked off its campaign. After a month, it already had raised $1 million.
"All of the big donations we got which meant so much, especially being able to announce the name of the building today meant so much to us, but I think about when we first announced this campaign, there was a single mom who came in and saw Stephanie (Johnson) and gave her $5," Donna Westhues said. "That $5 was like $500 or $5,000 to a lot of people, and that's the donation we're going to carry forward."
Along with the Westhueses, Jim Vossen, president of the Boys and Girls Club board, and Hallie Gibbs, a well-known businessman, comprised the core leadership. The fundraising team also included: Sen. Mike Kehoe and Bernie Fechtel (sought major donors); Anne Littlefield and Chuck Walker (led public campaign); Janet Wear-Enloe and Theresa Smith (grant writing); Tami Turner (marketing); and Travis Stephens (stewardship).
Dan Westhues said the best "byproduct" of the campaign was educating the community on the Boys and Girls Club mission: academic success, good character and citizenship, and a healthy lifestyle. Donors latched the club's purpose, he said.
That caused the campaign team to surpass its $2.2 million goal and then exceed its secondary goal of $2.5 million. The building, designed by Jefferson City-based architectural firm Architects Alliance, will include a renovated basement, which will act as the teen center.
"As our team went through the year, we realized that people were really resonating with our story, and we thought that we could do the whole thing and let's not go back to the community a year later and try to finish it out," Dan Westhues said. "And so to get that done, we needed to raise $2.5 million."
The Boys and Girls Club will continue fundraising in order to fill the new building with supplies. It is still in need of playground equipment and funding for an outdoor basketball court, among other items. Johnson previously told the News Tribune the club plans to hold focus groups with the children to understand their dreams for the building, which will be put out for bids in about a month.
"We want them to have ownership. This is for them," Johnson said. "This is for their future. We want them to be a part of what it's going to look like and what stuff is going to be in there."
While Johnson, Rome, Gibbs, Vossen, David Turner and Dan and Donna Westhues turned the dirt, the Boys and Girls Club members took turns doing the same with small gardening shovels to conclude the celebration.