Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) along with The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica (BGCSM) joined to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new Jack and Cindy Jones Youth Center at Mar Vista Gardens Boys & Girls Club. Located in the Mar Vista Gardens public housing development in Culver City, this center came to fruition due to a $1.7 million renovation and expansion through the voter approved Proposition K funds administered by the City of Los Angeles.
“This building is going to be used to help each Mar Vista Gardens child to have an opportunity to reach his or her potential. Our children need to be prepared to compete and succeed in this difficult world. Our goal is to assist the children of Mar Vista Gardens as they travel down two streets: one named knowledge and one named experience. These two streets lead to a highway named powerful thinking. Powerful thinking will take you to a place called success,” said John D. “Jack” Jones.
The Mar Vista Boys & Girls Club’s operations are made possible thanks to the generous donation of $1 million by John D. “Jack” and Cindy Jones. With partnership and collaboration between Jack and Cindy Jones, HACLA, developers, donors and the BGCSM Board and its staff, the Mar Vista Gardens Boys & Girls Club Branch will serve as a safe, fun and enriching environment for over 600 children during the non-school hours.
“From the very beginning Jack and Cindy have shown a personal interest in remodeling of this club. They have taken this personally and made more than a financial commitment; they made a personal commitment to make this endeavor so successful,” stated Douglas Guthrie, HACLA’s President and CEO.
The completely renovated 7, 265 square foot building includes a teen center, art shop, technology and education center, full gym, tutoring rooms and studio/sound booth. The Club is open to the members between the ages of 6 and 18 years old where they can take advantage of programs and services such as tutoring, homework assistance, develop social skills, sports, gain access to technology and other programs that promote healthy lifestyles and leadership skills.
Please click here to watch the video from CBS Los Angeles.