More than 70 years ago, the Boys and Girls Clubs opened their doors to Gary, creating the Steel City Boys Club.
Now, the organization and various community partners are ready for the next pages in the group’s story in Gary.
“We have a rich history of our commitment to the community and the kids throughout the area,” said Mike Jessen, president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana. “The impact of our club on the thousands of club kids, their families and the community at-large is immeasurable.”
Partners from the city of Gary, Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana and YMCA broke ground on the new Tolleston Opportunity Campus.
The campus features will include a multipurpose gymnasium for sports, fitness classes and community events; classrooms and meeting spaces; wellness center; child development center; teaching kitchen; outdoor recreational spaces; and community gathering spaces, according to project details.
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton said they weren’t just breaking ground on the new campus, but on hope, opportunity and transformation.
“This will become the heartbeat of the neighborhood,” Melton said. “This will become an epicenter for families. It’s a place where kids can dream big, where parents can feel supported, and everyone can come together to grow strong and healthier.”
The Tolleston Opportunity Campus is a $40 million collaboration between the city, YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs and Methodist Hospitals.
Jay Buckmaster, CEO of Crossroads YMCA, said the Tolleston Opportunity Campus should have its grand opening in September 2026.
In March, the project had raised $30 million, with $10 million each from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation, Gary and the state of Indiana. In 2023, the project received funding from Indiana’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, according to Crossroads YMCA’s website.
On Wednesday, Beth White, trustee of the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation, announced that the organization would donate another $5 million to the project. She encouraged other community groups to give as well.
“We’re all here today celebrating the start of something that is truly going to be transformational,” White said. “This is an exciting opportunity to be part of something bigger than any one person and show our children and our communities that when people work together and trust each other, great things really do happen.”
Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, said the Tolleston Opportunity Campus won’t just benefit Gary but all of Northwest Indiana.
The project is also an example of what happens when the private sector and government work together, Mrvan said. He also believes that Gary’s leadership has helped build a stronger partnership with the private sector.
“I want to play a small role in making sure that the city has the resources necessary to continue to offer opportunities such as this,” Mrvan said. “So, as your member of Congress, I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to see and live in this moment that we are giving towards the future of Gary and Northwest Indiana in a collaborative effort.”
