SARASOTA, FL--The Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County held a reception on Thursday, May 19, to honor 30 area contractors for their contributions to the Clubs' new administration building, named "The Lee Wetherington Trade Partners Building."  Lee Wetherington, president of Lee Wetherington Companies, and trade partners cut a ribbon granting official access to the 2,445-square-foot building at 3100 Fruitville Road. Completed in just four months, the building is valued at $300,000 "and every cent was donated," says J. Mack Reid, president/CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County. "Lee Wetherington and his trade partners covered all costs for labor and materials. We deeply appreciate their contributions, their energy and their foresight. We've been working in the building for a few weeks and are delighted every day to discover new ways it meets our needs,"  Reid says. The building provides nine offices, a meeting room, reception area and other facilities.

"The Boys & Girls Club had an immediate need for this new building, since their lease was ending at their former headquarters," Wetherington says. "We're pleased that we could solve their problem. I'm especially grateful to our trade partners for their great generosity and good will." 

Wetherington and associates of Lee Wetherington Companies spearheaded the project. Brandon Taylor, lead builder with Lee Wetherington Companies, was responsible for overseeing and coordinating all aspects of the building, which was designed by Steve Nelson, also with Lee Wetherington Companies. Trade partners made significant contributions at several levels, Wetherington says. Platinum Partners are Forest Products, McDonald DeAnthony¡¯s Consolidated; Gold Level: Kitchens Direct, Robin Johnson, Southern Tile, Reflections, Danny Via Plumbing, Sterling Purchasing Corporation, Manasota Flooring, West Florida Distributors, Ron¡¯s Drywall, Rick Murch Pavers, Access Communications; Sunbelt Electric, Sun State Landscaping and Yonkers Tractor Service; Silver Level:  Circle L Roofing, General Electric, Kevin Brown Construction, Sherwin Williams, Davidson Insulation & Acoustic, Rainbow Construction, Sherrin¡¯s Carpentry, Hanson Roofing, James Fralin Construction, Downs Glass, Aluminum Works Showcase Screen, House Painter, Mast Construction, Masterwork Sign Systems.    

"We invite members of the public to call us and arrange a tour of this new building, as well as our three Clubs. We're proud of our facilities and even prouder of our programs," Reid says. The Clubs are the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club, 3100 Fruitville Road, Sarasota; the Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club, 6851 S. Biscayne Blvd., North Port; and the Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club, 6851 S. Biscayne Blvd., North Port; and the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club, 1790 21st Street, Sarasota. Reid reports that the Clubs will break ground this summer for the new Robert and Joan Lee Boys & Girls Club, to be built in Venice.  

To request a tour or obtain other information about the Boys & Girls Clubs, contact Cheryl McDuffee at 941-366-3911, ext. 121, or visit www.boysandgirlsclubs.com.

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Photo BG 1: Photo by Shawn Warner, Lee Wetherington Companies

SARASOTA, FL--Lee Wetherington, president of Lee Wetherington Companies, prepares to cut the ribbon granting access to the new Lee Wetherington Trade Partners Building, 3100 Fruitville Road, Sarasota. Lee Wetherington Companies and their trade partners contributed all labor and materials to the $300,000, 2,445-square-foot building, which was completed in just four months. Pictured are Tony Zanoni, Kitchens Direct; Camila Garcia, Rainbow Construction; Tom Shapiro from Sterling Purchasing Corporation; Wetherington, Brandon Taylor, lead builder, Lee Wetherington Companies; Dr. Richard Rehmeyer, Board Chair, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County; Elizabeth Pyres, member, Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club; J. J. Johns, Forest Products; John Mitchell and Chris Fickey, Access Communications. 

Photo BG 2: Photo by LeBlanc Studios

SARASOTA, FL--J. Mack Reid, President/CEO of the Boys  & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County (left), poses in the new Lee Wetherington Trade Partners Building, 3100 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, with two club namesakes, Lee Wetherington (Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club, 3100 Fruitville Road) and Gene Matthews, (Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club, 6851 S. Biscayne Blvd., North Port, FL). Not pictured: Roy McBean (Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club, 1790 21st Street, Sarasota) and Robert and Joan Lee, benefactors of the future Robert & Joan Lee Boys & Girls Club, to be built in Venice.