Education

Shaquille O’Neal Foundation Transforms Former Middle School into Youth Club, Attracts 400+ Members in First Year

By TOI World Desk

In 2021, the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation helped turn a former Henry County Middle School in Georgia into the Shaquille O’Neal Boys and Girls Club of Henry County. The club opened in August after a $1.1 million renovation. Within its first year, the centre had registered more than 400 young members, turning an unused school building into a busy community hub for Henry County families.

The project was the result of a three‑year community engagement effort led by a local advisory board and supported by Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, the City of McDonough, Henry County, the Henry County Board of Education and other partners. For O’Neal, the cause was personal; he said the Boys and Girls Club had provided a safe space for him while he was growing up and helped shape who he became.

The renovated centre includes a learning centre, computer lab, arts and crafts centre, music studio, game room, multipurpose room, outdoor garden and gym. These facilities reflect the broader Boys and Girls Club approach, which combines academic support with activities that encourage confidence, teamwork and healthy habits.

The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation committed $1 million to the project, with additional support from partners such as The Papa John’s Foundation for Building Community, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and local government and education partners.

At the club’s first‑anniversary celebration in July 2022, O’Neal said he was proud to help create similar pathways to success for children in Henry County, echoing the role that a Boys and Girls Club had played in his own life.

By the time the club marked its first anniversary, it had more than 400 registered members, according to Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta and the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation. The anniversary event brought together youth members, parents, community partners and corporate supporters.

The club is led by Executive Director Jesse Coltrane, Program Director Jamal Jordan and Teen Director Breanna Varner. At the time of the anniversary, registration was open for fall membership, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta placed particular emphasis on reaching teenagers.

The Shaquille O’Neal Boys and Girls Club of Henry County is part of a larger network. Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta operates 26 clubs across 11 counties in metropolitan Atlanta and serves nearly 8,000 children and teenagers aged 6 to 18 each year. Its programs focus on academic success, healthy lifestyles, character and leadership.

The transformation of the former Henry County Middle School demonstrates how a vacant or repurposed public building can become a lasting community asset. Within a year, more than 400 children and teenagers had registered at the club, reflecting the impact of a safe, supportive space on young people’s lives.