Since May 31, the Frank and Billie Railton Center has been home to more than 300 Boys & Girls Club youth, and Monday, they welcomed the community into their space.
Karen Gibbs, longtime community member, said she remembers 50 years ago when there wasn't a Boys & Girls Club.
"It's always been a passion of mine to have something like this in the community," Gibbs said. "The colors, the light and everything is just great. We're proud to have this facility in our community."
Monday's official ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony featured a host of city and state officials; Missouri's first lady, Sheena Greitens; BGC founding board members as well as the building architects.
Tim Sigmund, president of the BGC board of directors, told the crowd this marked the end of a journey that began in 2012 when the construction of the Lafayette Street Interchange caused the club to lose its old facility.
"Although it was good for the city, it wasn't good for us," Sigmund said.
During the ceremony, all seven of the founding members were provided with a brick from the original facility as a token of the BGC's appreciation.
BGC Executive Director Stephanie Johnson told the News Tribune she had been holding the bricks for three years to give as a gift to the founders.
"I can't imagine what it took all those years ago to start this organization," Johnson said. "Those bricks happened because of them, and they laid the foundation for us to have these bricks here today."
Former board president Patricia Wright-Tatum said she remembers where the BGC came from and is thankful for the Jefferson City community and Johnson's leadership.
"I was the board president when we were on Elm Street, and I said then that if we got the right person as director of the club, we could go far," Tatum-Wright said. "Stephanie had really been a God-send for us."
In addition to the founding board members, campaign leaders Donna and Dan Westhues, Jim Vossen and Hallie Gibbs were given portraits as a symbol of their dedication to BCG.
With only four BGCs in the country located on a college campus, the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson City serves as a model for other clubs because it is the only one located on the campus of a historically black college.
Kevin Rome, outgoing president of Lincoln University, said the location of the club is a great match for the youth and the students.
"A large number of the employees at the BGC are Lincoln students, and now students from our nursing and education programs - you name it - can have the opportunity to work there," Rome said. "It's so great for the kids to be on a corner where they can see the university, the high school, the possibilities of education. That's what they all should be striving for."
The community was invited to tour the inside of the new facility, and it received rave reviews.
Wally Graffen, regional vice president for the Midwest Boys & Girls Clubs of America, said the community should be very proud of the facility.
"I love the layout, and after talking to a group of kids, I can tell they love it, too," Graffen said. "To me, that's the most important part."
Anne Bax, executive director of the United Way of Central Missouri, added: "I think its awesome, incredible and everything we wanted it to be."
As the community tour ended, the sixth annual Cork, Fork and Brews fundraiser took place at The LINC, the new wellness center across from the BGC facility on Lincoln's campus.
There were more than 670 guests in attendance sampling food and wine from local businesses.
Johnson and her co-fundraising chair Tammy Turner hosted the event and gave a special thank you to all of the participating food vendors.
A the community-centered theme continued Monday evening, the Class 5 state champion Jefferson City Jays were provided a standing ovation for their successful season. Coach Brian Ash thanked the community for their support.
First-round NFL draft pick for the Tennessee Titans and Cork, Fork and Brews guest speaker, Sylvester Williams, said he was honored to be a part of this year's event. Williams is a Jefferson City native and was adopted as the signature NFL player for the BGC of Jefferson City.
Also, Rome was presented with the Champion of Youth Award for his partnership with the BGC, and while Johnson was thanking all of the community partners, BGC youth returned the gratitude with a song dedicated to Johnson, thanking her for a chance to be successful.