LYNN — If you were a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Lynn as a kid, you have one last chance to see it before it looks completely different.
Ahead of their $18 million phase two of renovations, the club will host an Alumni & Community Leaders event on April 3. The goal of the event is to try and get as many alumni and community members as possible into the building to see all the positive changes that will be made to benefit the city’s youth. It’s a great way for people to reconnect with each other in their old stomping grounds and share stories about how the club impacted their lives.
“The Lynn Boys & Girls Club had a profound impact on my life as a kid, providing me with a safe and positive environment away from the streets of Lynn,” said Ward 6 Lynn City Councilor Fred Hogan. “The club didn’t just give us a place to go – it helped shape the people we became, instilling values that have stayed with us for a lifetime.”
Hogan was a club member off and on between 1978 and 1990. He spent countless hours at the club, learning how to swim and even bowl in the former alley that used to live in the club’s basement before phase one of renovations happened in 2019. He said the club is more than just a place for fun. It’s a refuge, offering stability, friendships, and a sense of belonging.
“This event is an awesome idea, bringing people together from all eras and hearing their stories,” he said.
Erin Muschette, who now serves as the vice president of the club’s Board of Directors, is an alumna of the club herself. Not only did she attend as a kid, but she spent her summers at the club’s Camp Creighton in Middleton, where she eventually became a lifeguard. As a senior in high school, she was named the club’s Youth of the Year, which afforded her a college scholarship.
“From that moment, I knew I always wanted to give back to the club,” she said. “Some of my fondest memories are from my time as a lifeguard, teaching the campers how to swim and watching them progress throughout the summer weeks.”
Muschette said that her hope for this event is that attendees will feel inspired to give back to the club and donate so even more Lynn kids can be in an environment where they are positively impacted.
“When former members think of the Boys & Girls Club of Lynn, they picture the old, with dim lighting, outdated spaces, and the old turn-style entrance,” she continued. “This alumni event will not only allow alumni and friends to see how much the club has changed but also what is in store for phase two. I think once the community is able to see what the future of the club looks like, and how many additional kids we will be able to serve, they will want to be a part of this project.”
Phase two of renovations is a massive undertaking. It will include renovations to the gym and pool, as well as the creation of a commercial kitchen and a separate wing for teens. And that’s just the beginning, according to Muschette. Every inch of space and every crevice in the building will be renovated or updated to benefit the kids.
The event runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at 25 N. Common St. and will offer appetizers and soft drinks to all attendees. There will also be a tour of the building where club leaders will explain all the upcoming changes. If you’re interested in attending, you must RSVP to Director of Communications & Special Events Erica Sousa by March 27. Her email is [email protected].
“This is a great opportunity for our alumni, community leaders, and club supporters to see first-hand the great work that we do for our members,” said the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Lynn, Brian Theirrien. “In addition, we get to reconnect and hear all of the great memories of previous club members and how the club positively impacted their lives.”
