wfn.org | NBA player helps church open high-tech youth center

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Sept. 17, 2002	News media contact: Tim Tanton7(615)742-54707Nashville,
Tenn.  10-31-71BP{416}

NOTE: Photographs are available with this report.

By Dawn M. Hand*

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UMNS) - Plaza United Methodist Church is going high tech in
its outreach to young people, thanks to a collaboration with the YWCA
Central Charlotte and a grant from NBA star Dell Curry's foundation.

Curry played professional basketball with the Charlotte Hornets before the
team moved to New Orleans. Though he's been a Toronto Raptor for the last
four years, he's still scoring big in Charlotte.

He opened the Dell Curry Foundation's Youth Educational Computer Learning
Center at Plaza United Methodist Church on Sept. 10. The church, at 5600 The
Plaza, is in a multi-ethnic area of East Charlotte. This marks the fourth
center in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and the first United Methodist congregation
to receive the grant. 

"Thank God, who gives us the opportunity to be in service," Curry said.
"It's important to give back to the community." During the opening prayer,
the Rev. Percival "Percy" Reeves, pastor of Plaza, also thanked God for the
opportunity to provide this kind of ministry to the community.

Curry, a 16-year NBA veteran, brought along friends Hersey Hawkins, a former
NBA player, and Raptors teammate Vince Carter. Hawkins and Carter spent time
signing autographs, talking with fans and surfing the Internet.

The Dell Curry Foundation's grant didn't come as a check, but instead took
the form of a learning center with 18 student computers and one teaching
computer, all networked, plus training and resource classes and staff
support. Through the foundation, Time Warner Cable provided high-speed
Internet access for each computer, and Wachovia Bank outfitted the center
with boardroom-style tables and chairs. Philip Morris USA and several other
businesses partnered with the foundation in providing financial support for
the center. 

Through the Youth Educational Computer Learning Centers, the Dell Curry
Foundation is partnering with community organizations and corporations to
enhance the lives of youth and young adults in Charlotte-Mecklenburg
communities. As outlined in its mission statement, the foundation plans to
offer support in adult and youth peer mentoring, counseling, educational and
computer enrichment, self-improvement skills, decision-making guidance and
team concept awareness.

Executive Director Jeff Hood wants the church and community to know the
foundation is committed. "We just don't drop off stuff and move on," he
said. "This is a full program complete with resources and assistance. We
offer a 16-week program, including financial and investment planning, guest
speakers and workshops on building healthy communities." The church will
also be required to file monthly reports on the center's progress, he added.

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, along with other city officials and business
representatives, attended the opening. Addressing the crowd, the mayor
reflected on the heightened awareness of terrorism. "The best way we can
help fight terrorism is to be active in the community and to help educate
all of our children," McCrory said. The mayor thanked Curry for his
continued dedication to the Charlotte area.

Walking around the center and greeting after-school participants, Reeves
said the center was the next step in ministering in the community. The
church already houses an older adult care center, as well as an after-school
program staffed by the YWCA Central Carolina. 

"We are excited about this computer center, and our doors are wide open to
this community - all ages, all ethnic groups," Reeves said. "We will use
this center for adult education and tutorials for children and youth." The
church's goal is to reach 70 to 75 people using the computer center on any
given week. The church is also working on starting an English as a second
language class.

Those ministries are part of the 262-member congregation's efforts to be a
community church where everyone feels welcome.

# # #

*Hand is director of communication for the United Methodist Church's Western
North Carolina Annual Conference.

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United Methodist News Service
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