The William N. Pennington Foundation has awarded the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada $1.639 million designated for construction costs related to their upcoming Smart Start Center on 2805 Mountain Street in Carson City opening in Spring of 2026.
This upcoming site will be BGCWN’s largest Smart Start Center serving 80 kids ages newborn to 5 years old for daycare and pre-kindergarten. The facility features 5 developmentally appropriate classrooms, a private nursing area, and two brand-new, interactive playgrounds.
This Smart Start Center, previously known as the Mountain Center Smart Start, will be renamed the William N. Pennington Center Smart Start to pay homage to the Pennington Foundation’s generous contribution.
After the Governor’s Workforce Development Board coined Nevada as a ‘daycare desert’ in their 2023 Childcare Policy Report, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada have committed themselves to expanding their reach in the Carson City and Carson Valley community to offer more accessible and affordable childcare. BGCWN has since opened four Smart Start Centers since January of 2024 creating over 220 more childcare spots available in Carson City and Minden.
“We are deeply honored to be awarded $1.639 million from the William N. Pennington Foundation,” said Brett Zunino, the CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada. “Making a real impact in the community requires a collective effort. Our Smart Start Centers were established not only to provide more affordable childcare but to alleviate the burden of not being able to find available spots. This generous award from the Pennington Foundation empowers us to continue fulfilling our mission.”
BGCWN purchased 2805 Mountain Street in Carson City in June of 2024 with $1.2 million awarded from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) by Governor Joe Lombardo.
Renovations for the William N. Pennington Center Smart Start will begin in 2025 in collaboration with architect FormGrey Studio and Metcalf Builders. This project was supported in part by federal award number 24NVBGC07 awarded to Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
The William N. Pennington Foundation was formed by the late William N. Pennington, a gaming industry pioneer and philanthropist, and provides grants to Northern Nevada based organizations in the areas of education, community services, health care, and medical research.
To learn more about the Smart Start program, please visit the website here.
About the Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada strives to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. Opening in 1993, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada has since expanded to 6 locations in Carson City and Minden, Nevada, currently serving over 2,200 members ages newborn to 18 years. Additional information is available at www.bgcwn.org.
