June 1, 2019 Boys Hope Girls Hope (BHGH), announces its Rajan Academy Center Grand Opening on June 1, 2019 at 11 a.m. on the Boys Hope Girls Hope Campus in Garfield Heights. The 22,000 sq.ft. Rajan Center is an addition to the existing 5-building campus located in Garfield Heights.
Garfield Heights, OH: Boys Hope Girls Hope (BHGH), announces its Rajan Academy Center Grand Opening on June 1, 2019 at 11 a.m. on the Boys Hope Girls Hope Campus in Garfield Heights. The 22,000 sq.ft. Rajan Center is an addition to the existing 5-building campus located in Garfield Heights. The new center will blend elements of a community center, home and school into a one of a kind youth development facility for young people, ages 12-22. It is fully equipped with an art studio, maker’s lab, reading room, gymnasium, fitness center, kitchen, and common spaces to accommodate Boys Hope Girls Hope’s 175 Scholars with a safe and nurturing environment. BHGH is a local, privately funded non-profit that supports the healthy development of high-possibility, underprivileged youth through holistic developmental opportunities and a nurturing ‘home away from home’ atmosphere on our 5-acre campus in Garfield Heights.
With a history of serving the young people of Cleveland and Akron for over 30 years, the opening of the Rajan Academy Center will allow BHGH to expand the depth of its programming to serve over 200 Scholars. These Scholars from Northeastern Ohio participate in innovative, engaging after-school programming focused on academic enrichment, STEM education, hands-on learning experiences, social-emotional growth and college and career counseling. Scholars also participate in service, leadership, and community-building opportunities.
The fully funded, $6.7 million project leveraged federal and state new market tax credits, and private investments from more than 50 individuals and foundations. Construction began on the Rajan Center in June of 2018 and will be completed on schedule with doors opening to the ambitious 6th-12th grade Scholars for immersive summer programming. The facility will operate year-round, serving more than 100 Scholars a day, through after school, evening, weekend and summer activities. Partnerships with the greater community and other local nonprofits to utilize the Rajan Center are planned.
As an exciting compliment to the Rajan Center Project, on May 14 the Cleveland Browns officially announced a partnership with BHGH and broke ground on a 70-yard field on the land adjoining the facility. This summer, the Browns will install high-quality synthetic turf field, which is the eighth of nine multi-sport playing fields to be funded since summer 2016 through Browns Give Back. The field is expected to be completed by September 2019.
“With our expanded Campus of Hope we are able to provide even more talented young people with the resources and security to dream and achieve. We are a place of hope and opportunity, a harbor for our Scholars in an often stormy world,” Tom Eby, Campaign Chairman.