FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peter Poon Kwong, poonkwong@bgcsctn.org
Efforts Underway to Raise Critical Community Support for Pulaski Boys & Girls Club Expansion
The Pulaski Area Council gathered for its annual planning meeting and took time to pose for a photo with Club members Christianna and Ta’Kyeria.
Pulaski, TN. — March 19, 2026 — Earlier this year, the Pulaski Advisory Committee gathered to look ahead at what’s next for the Pulaski Club—and, more importantly, what Pulaski’s kids and teens need most right now. The conversation centered on upcoming renovations and the launch of a capital campaign that will transform the Club into a space that better reflects the care, support, and opportunity happening inside its blue doors every day.
The need in Pulaski is urgent. Located in a public housing neighborhood, the Club serves young people who often face challenges far greater than what happens after school. In Giles County, fewer than half of students are meeting grade-level expectations in reading proficiency. Across Tennessee, about 1 in 5 high school students have seriously considered suicide, and youth obesity remains a significant public health concern. Many families in our region are working hard on limited incomes, and some young people are being raised by grandparents or other caregivers. For many of these children and teens, the Pulaski Club is the one consistent place where they feel safe, supported, and truly seen.
Pulaski Club kids enjoy time outdoors together.
One Pulaski Club parent said it best: “My grandkids love it I will not send them anywhere else. We love it there. Thanks for the care you give to my kids”
That reality came into even sharper focus when the committee heard directly from Club teens Christianna and Ta’kyeria. In their own words, they shared what the Club has meant in their lives—how it has given them encouragement, stability, and a place to belong. Their stories served as a powerful reminder that this effort is about far more than construction. It is about creating a space that tells every child who walks through the door: you matter.
Pulaski Club member Ta’Kyeria shares her Youth of the Year speech with an engaged Pulaski Area Council audience.
Our Youth Development Professionals are highly trained and deeply committed to helping young people succeed, and our programs are nationally proven and life-changing. But the current facility does not reflect the level of care and opportunity happening inside. The building is worn and stretched thin. The gym is small and overcrowded. The HVAC system struggles, leaving the space unbearably hot in the summer and freezing in the winter. The game room fills quickly, the kitchen is outdated, and there is little dedicated space for teens. A significant portion of programming takes place in an aging trailer behind the Club, requiring kids and staff to walk outside to access it.
Demolition begins on the trailer behind the Pulaski Club, marking an early step in renovations
The committee also heard a renovation update from Jeff with Brindley Construction, LLC, who walked through early plans, timelines, and what the next phases could look like as the project moves forward. His update helped clarify both the scope of the work and the road ahead as Pulaski prepares for a major transformation.
Jeff Brindley of Brindley Construction shares plans for the upcoming Pulaski renovations with an engaged group of Pulaski Area Council members.
By spring 2027, the vision is clear: a modern, community-centered Club—built for Pulaski, by Pulaski—where kids and families can belong, grow, and be seen. Launched in 2026, the Pulaski capital campaign will support a $1 million renovation that expands usable space, refreshes bathrooms, and creates dedicated areas for homework and tutoring, STEM and technology, and creative arts. Plans also include a teen-only room designed for youth ages 13 and up, along with a fully renovated kitchen to support healthy meals during the school year and summer months.
During a School’s Out day at the Pulaski Club, members enjoyed a fun game of dodgeball indoors and paused for a quick photo during a break.
Outside, the project includes an exciting opportunity to bring a Dream Court™ to Pulaski—a world-class outdoor sports court unlike anything else in Giles County. The Nancy Lieberman Foundation has pledged $75,000 toward the $150,000 court, and we are now working to raise the remaining half. We have already secured $431,000 in state funding toward the larger renovation and will raise the remainder through 2026.
Pulaski Club kids enjoy time outside playing sports together
This investment will help grow daily attendance from about 50 to more than 120 youth while protecting what makes the Club feel like home: safety, relationships, and personal attention. Because in the end, this is not just about a building. It is about making sure every child in Pulaski walks through those doors and knows, “This is your Club. You belong here.”
About Pulaski Capital Campaign
Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee is inviting the community to support the Pulaski Capital Campaign, a $1 million effort to create a safer, more welcoming, and more functional space for local youth. With $431,000 in state funding already secured, the organization is now raising the remaining support needed to complete renovations through 2026, including expanded program space, a renovated kitchen, dedicated teen and learning areas, and a planned Dream Court™. To make a gift, discuss naming opportunities, or offer in-kind support, contact Ginny Wright at gwright@bgcsctn.org or call (931) 490-9401 ext. 2605.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee
The vision of Boys & Girls Clubs of America is to provide a world-class Club Experience that ensures success is within reach for every young person who enters our doors. Founded in 1999, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee serves more than 1,700 youth annually across three Clubhouse sites and eleven school-based locations. In partnership with Maury County Public Schools since 2016, the Club has expanded its reach to provide vital services to children and families throughout the region.
For more information, please visit Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee
