Dozens of basketballs and soccer balls bounced around the Eastman Boys & Girls gym Thursday, Jan. 30, in the hands of happy kids.
“There’s nothing better than this, kids having fun,” said a smiling Chuckie Miller, former Poly High and UCLA football star, who remembered what it was like when he was a kid in the Boys & Girls Clubs Petrolane Center more than 40 years ago.
“It was one of the best things that happened to me when I was growing up,” Miller said. “I learned about teamwork and respecting and loving others.”
Miller, who played two years for the NFL’s Baltimore Colts, runs the Better Body Fitness Center at 4350 Atlantic Ave. He also is head of Kids Fitness: Say Yes to Life, a foundation dealing with child obesity and youth development.
He was at the Eastman Center to help celebrate all of the athletic equipment donated by Press-Telegram readers in the paper’s “Let’s Play Ball” campaign. The holiday campaign raised 650 sports balls, a record.
Many of those balls were being used by kids dribbling and shooting baskets last week. Before they got their hands on the balls, kids listened attentively to Miller, who talked about his time as a kid at the Petrolane club years ago.
He said the most important thing for them to get out of their experience at the Boys & Girls Clubs is that they are a member of an extended family at the club.
“Respect each other, love each other and get along with each other like you’re on a team,” he said.
Kids cheered as Miller asked them to thank Press-Telegram readers for their donations.
Don Rodriguez, CEO of the clubs, said he was overwhelmed by the response from P-T readers. “We really can’t thank the community enough,” he said. “The amount of support we received through this campaign will make a huge difference for our sports program.”
Yareli Rodriguez and Arthur Sanchez, both 11, thanked readers for their donations.
Yareli said her favorite sport is soccer. “Most of my friends play soccer,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Arthur said he likes basketball, soccer and baseball.
Both kids are top students in the clubs Leaders in Training program, which works to build leadership and work experience for youth, according to Kari Cho, director of events, marketing and communications for the clubs.
Yareli and Arthur assist staff members, lead recreation activities and help supervise other youth during program hours. By doing this, they earn points that allow them to participate in special events, field trips and raffle items, Cho said.
Yareli and Arthur said one of their favorite times at the club is gym time. They said they are looking forward to playing in the club-wide basketball league, which starts next month. They also like working in the club’s garden.
“There’s so much stuff to do in the garden,” Arthur said. “We can plant things. We even learn how to cook.”
Yareli nodded in agreement.
Then off they went to play in the gym with their club members and teammates, doing just what Miller had exhorted them to do: have fun while respecting and loving your fellow members.
It was a joy to behold. We at the Press-Telegram, and I personally, thank all of you who made donations during this ball campaign. Your donations are being used well for a great cause, making a difference in the lives of our youth.
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