This gift – and a desire to provide additional organisational resources in the future – will support the ongoing efforts led by the Medical College of Georgia Foundation, the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) and the Boys & Girls Club of the CSRA. The four US$2.5 million donations will provide the majority of funding for the first phase of this transformational project, which includes the construction of an innovative community centre and a new headquarters for the Boys & Girls Club. 

“This contribution reaffirms our commitment to the City of Augusta, which has so generously supported us for decades,” Ridley said. “We are also extremely fortunate to have partners like AT&T, Bank of America and IBM who support projects that are foundational to better educational and economic outcomes for the community.”

“This contribution reaffirms our commitment to the City of Augusta, which has so generously supported us for decades." – Fred Ridley

When complete, the new community centre will provide a space for those organisations already making a difference in the Harrisburg and Laney Walker neighbourhoods. It will also offer residents access to quality healthcare, a literacy centre, educational support through mentoring and future workforce development, food and nutrition programs, and much more. A new headquarters for the Boys & Girls Club will allow for much-needed facilities to serve youth in the Augusta community and will help the organisation collaborate with other groups in the surrounding area with similar missions.

Ridley added that funds will be managed through the Community Foundation, and every dollar will go to the success of the project. A date for ground-breaking will be determined shortly, ideally by April 2021.

This announcement represents the latest collaboration between Augusta National and the Community Foundation, who annually work together to support local charities through proceeds from the Masters Tournament. Earlier this year, the two coordinated a joint contribution of US$1 million to support efforts led by Augusta University for local expansion of COVID-19 testing, and US$1 million to the CSRA COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, launched by the Community Foundation and United Way of the CSRA.