SquashBusters is a 22-year-old youth program that combines squash and fitness, academic support and enrichment, community service, mentoring and summer opportunities to improve the lives of young people in Lawrence, Boston and Providence.
Merrimack and SquashBusters hope to build approximately 18,000 square feet of space that will include eight squash courts, classrooms, office and meeting space, and locker rooms, in the college’s athletics district.
“This synergistic relationship will create a program that deepens our work with young people in Lawrence,” said college President Christopher E. Hopey.
Merrimack currently partners with Abbott Lawrence Academy, Lawrence’s honors high school, to provide classes for college credit, and supports a number of service-providing programs such as Hands to Help at St. Mary’s parish and the Financial Capability Center, which provides financial advice and education to clients of nonprofit agencies in the city.
The college and SquashBusters will begin fundraising for the new building early in 2019.
