Boys & Girls Club Blog

April 18, 2024

The Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh announces the completion of Phase Four of the Club’s facilities expansion, including the Hyde Family Community Center, Verve Administrative Center, OshKosh B’gosh Middle School Center, Community First Credit Union Multipurpose Field and Amcor Teen Center. The building will be open on Sunday, May 5, from noon to 4 p.m. for a public open house with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m.

The building at 501 E. Parkway Avenue in Oshkosh began its $18.5M expansion in October 2022 to better serve the needs of children and families. The recently completed fourth phase of the project includes a 30,000 sq. ft. new building that houses the Hyde Family Community Center, Verve Administrative Center and Amcor Teen Center.

The Hyde Family Community Center (entrance on Monroe Street) will bring together more than 24 local agencies to collaborate on improving service capabilities for families and the community.

“One way to make Oshkosh a better community is to have a positive impact on kids,” said Doug Hyde, Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh lifetime board member and former president and CEO of OshKosh B’ Gosh, a third-generation family-owned company. “My parents cared deeply about Oshkosh and were very philanthropic in supporting the community as a vibrant, wonderful place to live and raise a family. They were proud to support the Boys & Girls Club, sharing a strong passion for its mission.”

The Verve Administrative Center (entrance on Broad Street) features an 8,000 sq. ft Amcor Teen Center on the second floor for ages 13-18 and a new administrative wing.

“We are honored to support the Boys & Girls Club’s Capital Campaign and are excited to see our Oshkosh Club thrive! It is a valuable investment,” said Kevin J. Ralofsky, President and Chief Executive Officer of Verve, a Credit Union. “We are committed to leading the way in empowering young minds to become the compassionate leaders of tomorrow. We know that with the right support, the youth in our communities can develop into the confident, community-minded people we know they desire to be.”

The Club’s current Teen Center and administrative offices were renovated to become the new OshKosh B’gosh Middle School Center (for ages 10-12), doubling the program space for this age group. In addition, Club members have been enjoying the new Community First Credit Union Multipurpose Field, a turf field with year-round access.

The Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh thanks its generous donors for their help in completing Phase Four, including the Hyde family, Verve, a Credit Union, Amcor, and Community First Credit Union.

“This expansion and renovation allow us to create so many opportunities for the kids of Oshkosh, and with the addition of the Hyde Family Community Center, to serve additional families in a more impactful way,” said Tracy Ogden, Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh CEO.

The final phase of the project, beginning construction in June, includes a second gym and new playground to better accommodate the 450 children the Club will be able to serve daily. We are working hard to get to the finish line and secure the remaining funds needed for this final phase. If you would like to give a gift to the project, please contact Tracy Ogden, at (920) 233-1414, ext. 116, or tracyo@bgcosh.org, or you can donate online at bgcosh.org.