THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 31, 1996 TAG: 9608310362
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 71 lines
They were hoping for a miracle and they got it. Thanks to an outpouring of community support, the doors of the Campostella Boys and Girls Club will remain open - at least for a few more weeks.
``I got some news for you all,'' club director Byron Joyce told about 40 children assembled in the club's gym for an end-of-summer pizza party.
``We raised enough money to stay open!''
The place erupted. ``YEEAAAAH!'' the youngsters screamed in unison. Two small girls ran up and hugged Joyce; others jumped up and down, and waved their arms.
Out of money, and prepared to shut its doors Friday, club officials placed its fate into the hands of the community.
And the community responded: By late afternoon, club officials had more than $7,000 in hand and pledges for at least $5,000 more.
``It's just been tremendous,'' said Web Gould, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Hampton Roads, which operates the club for the children of several surrounding public housing neighborhoods.
``It makes me feel good that people responded to God's call,'' Joyce said.
The club has lived a hand-to-mouth existence, and Friday was not the first time it faced closure. The nonprofit Boys and Girls Clubs, which operates five local clubs in South Hampton Roads, receives funding primarily through the United Way and grants. The agency hopes to find a permanent source of funding for the Campostella club.
``I'm happy to be here for another day, but we're looking for stability for these children,'' Joyce said. ``I can't keep breaking their hearts every six or seven months and tell them we're going to be closing down. It's a program that's deeply needed for our community.''
About 300 children from the public housing communities, including Diggs Town and Oakleaf Forest, belong to the club. About 75 use it regularly.
The donations that came in Friday were enough to keep the club operating until October or November, Gould said. He said the club needs about $50,000 a year to stay open.
Gould said the community's generosity overwhelmed him. After learning about the club's plight, one man walked into the office Friday and stroked a check for $1,000, Gould said.
Several people wrote checks for under $100. A business group promised another $5,000. And U.S. Rep. Owen Pickett, D-2nd, called to say he would search for federal grant money.
Norfolk Sheriff Robert McCabe and the Fraternal Order of Police Commodore Lodge No. 3 pitched in $5,000 Friday.
``We don't have enough for them to do now, so we certainly don't want to be shutting things down,'' McCabe said. ``If they don't have things to do, they're going to be getting into trouble, and if they come down here (to the jail) it'll cost triple the money than it does for this small investment to give them something to do.''
With school starting Tuesday, the club will be an after-school refuge for children 6 to 17 who drop by to shoot hoops, play games and learn ``life'' skills, such as character values and how to resolve disputes peacefully.
``I love this club,'' said James Lewis, 13. ``Since I've been here, I've learned how to operate a computer, how to work with others and also to improve my jump shot. This is a hangout place here.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/The
Virginian-Pilot\
At the Campostella Boys and Girls Club on Friday, Byron Joyce Jr.,
2, plays while Brittney Davis, 6, and Tasha Holloway, 10, play
bumper pool.
To Help Out
The Campostella Boys and Girls Club is at 2300 E. Berkley Ave.
People interested in making donations can contact the Boys and Girls
Clubs of South Hampton Roads at 853-5632.
KEYWORDS: CAMPOSTELLA BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB by CNB