NEW OLIVET TEEN CENTER A PLACE FOR LEARNING AND GROWING
Chapter on Clinton Street serves about 125 who attend daily activities
By Darrin Youker
Reading Eagle
9/13/2009
- For Luis Cedeno, the Olivet Boys and Girls Club chapter on Clinton Street is a second home.
Cedeno, a 15-year-old freshman at Reading High School, has been coming to the club in northwest Reading for several years.
On Saturday Cedeno discovered yet another reason to keep coming, as the club unveiled a new teen center featuring computers, game systems and television sets.
The center was funded with a $15,000 grant from the clothing chain Villa.
The center will serve as a hangout, but also as a place where kids can do their homework and take advantage of software to help them study for their SATs.
“It is like a home away from home,” Cedeno said. “I can come here and just chill.”
Jason Lutz, chief executive officer of Villa, and leaders of the Olivet Boys and Girls Club came to the chapter Saturday to officially open the center.
The center will go a long way toward helping the club achieve its goal of having every member graduate from high school, said Jeffrey M. Palmer, club president.
“We hope this will keep our kids here and off the streets,” Palmer said. “Kids will stay where there is a safe, caring, place.”
Deloris Reviere, unit director of the Clinton Street chapter, said the boys and girls clubs had competed against other organizations for the grant. Clinton Street was chosen because of the number of teens who actively participate in events, she said.
“This center has a lot of heart and soul,” said Andrew Lutz, who manages the Villa store in Reading.
The club has more than 1,200 members, with about 125 who come to daily activities, Reviere said. Many of those students participate in the Keystone Club, which promotes community service, she said.
“Our focus is on education and increasing the number of children who graduate,” Reviere said.
Cedeno, who is a member of the Keystone Club, said it has been raising money for Opportunity House and for malaria research.
Joshua Ramos, 16, a member at the Olivet club, predicted the teen center will be popular.
“You make good friends here,” he said.
VILLA TEEN CENTER GRAND OPENING RECAP
On Saturday, September 12, 2009, VILLA opened its second VILLA Teen Center at the Olivet Boys and Girls Club.
Teens from the Clinton Street Boys and Girls Club were shocked to see the newly improved teen center. The new VILLA Teen Center will provide a space for fun and learning complete with a gaming center, teen lounge, and computer and homework area.
Students will use be able to use SAT prep software on the new computers and host Madden tournaments on their dual screen gaming center with Xbox and PS3.
VILLA has been proud to work with the Olivet Boys and Girls Club and chose the Clinton Street Club to be the site of the Reading VILLA Teen Center because of their exceptional leadership and service.
WORN SNEAKER & SHOE DONATION
If your organization serves disadvantaged community members in need of shoes and/or sneakers, recycles older shoes, or donates worn shoes to underserved communities, please send an email request to info.jtm@ruvilla.com to learn how your organization can receive our donated shoes and sneakers.
In many of our VILLA communities neighbors are suffering from the effects of the recession. VILLA is committed to finding all opportunities to provide resources for our community members and community service partners.
From September 15 to October 15, 2009 VILLA will be collecting slightly worn shoes from customers in exchange for a discount on the purchase of new footwear.
