MOUNT AIRY, Ga. — Children filed eagerly into the Tim Lee Boys & Girls Club in Mount Airy. They clustered around newly unboxed laptops, tapped the buttons of gleaming Nintendo Switches, and pointed at television screens in enormous cardboard boxes. In the air, there was both the buzz of excitement and the quiet satisfaction of a job well done by the adults who made it happen.
On September 18, the club celebrated receiving a $50,000 grant from T-Mobile. The money funded a technology-focused lounge, part of a broader effort to support education, workforce development, and academic success.
“You are one of 25 communities to receive this grant,” Donte Perry of T-Mobile told the crowd that had gathered to celebrate. Perry stood alongside local officials, staff, and parents, underscoring the company’s commitment to rural communities like Habersham.
(Carly McCurry/NowHabersham.com)
Jonathan Henson, Events & Engagement Coordinator
for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier, explained that the laptops will “help support learning and workforce development opportunities as well as academic success opportunities.”
The new space, lined with affirming posters reminding students that “Believe You Can & You Are Halfway There,” blends warmth with purpose. On one wall, paper banners spell out “Hispanic Heritage Month.” On another, handwritten notes of “Group Agreements” urge kindness, respect, and fairness.
Investing in children’s futures
For the children who attend daily, the upgrades signal more than just new screens. They represent investment.
“It’s a lot to take in,” said Dontae Carter of Cornelia. “But it’s good to have new things come in and to see the community invest in us. I can’t wait to use this equipment to learn and give back.”
Nearby, Tristan Isaacs of Mount Airy, echoed the sentiment in simpler terms.
“I have a good feeling about it. I like it,” he said. Chandler Dale, also of Habersham, added, “I think the new equipment will have a great impact on the Boys and Girls Club and all of our lives. I love it.”
Years of effort
The grant reflects years of effort by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier to stay current with technology. CEO Steve Michens emphasized the demands of preparing kids for the future, explaining the importance of technology and noting, “We want to stay up to date.”
Rachael Burns, the organization’s grants manager, worked behind the scenes to secure the funding, recognizing the urgency of equipping rural Georgia’s children with tools that match those available in larger cities.
For parents, the program’s importance is personal. One mother of six children put it plainly: “We rely on the Boys and Girls Club. I could not work without it.”
The interior of the Tim Lee Club in Mount Airy makes a compelling visual case. In the lounge, rows of laptops sit open on folding tables, and orange couches punctuate the room. In the classrooms, international flags drape beside student art on the walls. A foosball table and pool table anchor the recreational spaces, and a gym provides space for physical activity. Together, the areas create a place for learning, for play, and for expanding young minds.
T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants program has invested nearly $750,000 into 15 small towns across Georgia, according to company officials. The money has gone to fuel projects focused on strengthening infrastructure, technology, education, and culture statewide.
Across the country, the program has empowered over 425 small towns with over $19M in funding, a company news release states.
Upcoming fundraiser
The club’s impact extends beyond the day-to-day. On October 4, it will host a car show to raise funds and awareness for its programs. Organizers expect 50 vehicles on display, along with live music from a DJ, raffles, vendors, and a morning auto swap meet. Sponsorships remain open for businesses that want to attach their names to a day of community celebration.
For the children, though, the future is already here. As Tristan Isaacs declared, “I have a good feeling about it.”
