Listen to Tim Herman, Genesee Regional Chamber CEO and Art Hurand, Partners for Progress chairman, speak at the press conference (3:01)

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint to celebrate gymnasium grand opening with Rock Financial & Detroit Shock

(Monday, June 2, 2008) -- Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint will host a grand opening celebration and net cutting for its new Rock & Shock Gymnasium on June 2.  This event will highlight the $150,000 renovation project that included new lighting, bleachers, a new electronic scoreboard, paint and the addition of a brand new gym floor! One hundred youngsters will join special guests from the Detroit Shock, alongside Rock Financial President (and Flint native) Patrick McInnis and Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Tim Herman for a cutting down of basketball nets and short inspirational discussion.  The celebration begins at 10 a.m. and will conclude at noon.

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint’s new gymnasium opens one year after the completion of the Rock & Shock Teen Center, located at 3701 N. Averill Ave., which provides area teens with an extremely unique and creative space to live, learn and play. 

The new gymnasium features a beautiful center court logo highlighting the investment of Rock Financial, the Detroit Shock, The Pistons Palace Foundation and the IMA Recreation Association.  This project also was made possible by the Whiting Foundation, the Nartel Family Foundation and the Central Flint Optimist Club. 

Children at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint will use the new gymnasium to participate in Health & Life Skills and Sports, Fitness & Recreation activities.  This updated gymnasium complements the teen center and other facility enhancements totaling more than $1 million in investment since 2004.

“This center is important to Flint youth.  It provides important educational and recreational resources to area teens and I believe it will have a positive, lasting impact on their personal growth and development,” says McInnis.

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint is a positive and safe place for all children to attend after school, on Saturdays and during the summer, with special attention for those with challenging circumstances. It costs each child only $10 per year to become a member (assistance available), while the actual cost of providing service is about $350 per child. The difference is made up through grants, foundations, individual donors and support from wonderful partners such as Rock Financial and the Detroit Shock. The Boys & Girls Club provides programming in five core areas: Sports, Fitness & Recreation, the Arts, Character & Leadership Development, Education & Career Development, and Health & Life Skills.  These programs are provided to more than 3,000 local youngsters on an annual basis.