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East County News Service
July 7, 2017 (La Mesa) – The Boys and Girls Clubs of East County (BGCEC) has scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction for its new Brady Family Clubhouse that will house the Gagon Academy and Bill Walton Gymnasium. The groundbreaking ceremony will begin at 9 a.m., Wednesday, July 12, on the west end of La Mesa Arts Academy, previously known as La Mesa Middle School, 4200 Parks Ave., La Mesa.
Attending the groundbreaking ceremony will be: Bill Walton, La Mesa native and former professional basketball player; Ron and Mary Alice Brady, owners of the Brady Companies, who have donated $3 million to BGCEC; and Kathy Aylott, banker and acquaintance of the estate of Eleni and Wolfgang Gagon of San Diego, also responsible for a $3 million donation.
The new 26,000-square-foot Brady Family Clubhouse will be the largest of the six Boys and Girls Clubs of East County. The clubhouse will feature a learning center and homework study room named the Gagon Academy, a full-service kitchen and nutrition center and the Little Rascals area for 5-to-7-year olds. It will also showcase the 10,000-square-foot Bill Walton Gymnasium, named after the Helix High graduate (class of 1970) and TV basketball broadcaster on the PAC 12 network.
When completed, the Brady Family Clubhouse combined with the existing Brady Family Teen Center -- located on the east end of the La Mesa Arts Academy campus -- will serve up to 200 children a day, ages 5 to 18, BGCEC officials said.
Elected officials expected to attend the July 12th groundbreaking ceremony will include: Dianne Jacob, San Diego County Supervisor; Mark Arapostathis, La Mesa Mayor; and, David Chong, board member, La Mesa-Spring Valley School District.
Other dignitaries expected to attend will include community leaders and volunteers who have been fundraising the past three years for what has been called the “La Mesa Capital Campaign” (Walton has served as the campaign’s honorary chairman).
According to BGCEC officials, the La Mesa Capital Campaign has raised roughly $8.5 million needed to fund construction of the new Brady Family Clubhouse. Fundraising will continue towards a goal of $1 million needed for an operational endowment. The campaign previously raised funds for renovations to the existing Brady Family Teen Center. Renovations completed in 2014 to the Teen Center included an exterior face lift and interior upgrades, along with flooring and carpeting, new furniture, computers and a security system.
“This dream has become a reality because of the incredible partnerships we’ve built with the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District, the County of San Diego, City of La Mesa, Ron and Mary Alice Brady and Beth LeFriant of the Gagon Estate,” said Forrest Higgins, CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of East County. “This project is a credit to La Mesa, the community and its leaders. We cannot wait to open our doors in the spring of 2018.”
The Brady’s $3 million donation to the La Mesa Capital Campaign included $1 million to renovate the existing teen center, which was renamed the Brady Family Teen Center, along with $2 million to build the Brady Family Clubhouse.
“We are thrilled beyond words about reaching this groundbreaking milestone,” said Ron Brady. “The location for the new clubhouse is perfect with the Teen Center on one end, La Mesa Arts Academy in the middle the clubhouse on the other end of campus and adjacent to Helix High School. It creates a chain of support and progress for these kids, from kindergarten through high school, as they prepare for college.
“There’s no better feeling in the world than supporting the Boys and Girls Clubs because it’s better to build kids than try to mend adults. They’re teaching kids the importance of personal responsibility and accountability, which ensures kids receive the consequences of their own behavior.”
Mary Alice Brady (right) said, “We are so very grateful and proud to be part of this effort that will impact young people for future decades. It’s pretty exciting to be part of this team and have the opportunity to make all this happen.”
The estate of Eleni and Wolfgang Gagon has pledged another $3 million to BGCEC. Furthering education and academics in young people was a focus for the Gagons, according to Beth LeFriant, estate trustee and family friend. “The Gagons were immigrants, educators and lifelong learners who pledged their philanthropy to educating young children,” LeFriant said.
During the 1970s and 1980s, the Gagons built a substantial real estate portfolio after investing in apartments and renovating properties in San Diego’s Golden Hill and Kensington communities.
Steve South, president/CEO of EDCO Disposal Corp., has served as chair of the La Mesa Capital Campaign since it was formed in 2014. “We’re expecting the Brady Family Clubhouse will be a game-changer in its impact on the local community,” he said.
“The new clubhouse will be a catalyst to help change the entire western La Mesa area,” said La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis, also is a co-founder of La Mesa Arts Academy and the director of theatre arts at the school, as well as director of Peter Pan Jr. Theater and C. Hook Theater. “When the doors open on the first day, the impact on our youth will be tremendous and immediate.”
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