TAKE A BREAK: Pepsi Helps the 'Hill'
Youth group wins 50k from Cola Company
Still no arrests in last week's shooting near a Schenectady park that left an 11 year old with a gunshot wound to the head.
The park was in Hamilton Hill, a place that has seen its share of bad news.
But even there, good news can be found.
As we discovered in this week's Take a Break report, children in that community are getting a real vote of confidence.
The Boys and Girls Club of Schenectady offers lots of programs for kids.
They're always looking to do more too.
But when the recession hit, they felt it like everyone else.
"It's tough for people to give as freely as they did before," says director Michael Centor.
"Whether it's individuals or businesses for sponsorships for events we may run."
Centor says 3 years ago plans were hatched to buld a playground at the Craig Street location but the money just wanst there.
Until they found some in an unusual place.
The Pepsi-Cola company.
Every month, Pepsi's nationwide 'Refresh Everything' online contest has been awarding $50,000 to the top 10 ideas designed to improve local communities. In April, the Boys and Girls Club's playground proposal came up short.
"We were knocked out of the box on the last day," says Centor.
But not in May.
"A rainy June 1st morning felt like the most glorious morning I had seen in years."
"People really got behind it," adds Centor, "and pushed us through at the end."
All the standard playground equipment will be there, as well as some outdoor fitness stations.
"There's the pull up bars, the chin up bars, the step up equipment."
So call it the miracle on Craig Street. After more than 3 years of hard work by the folks at the Boys and Girls Club, and a refreshing idea by a cola company, their now empty lot will be a busy place.
A place full of happy families.
"I've been told they put the check in the mail on Monday," Centor says, "and it should be here by the end of this week."
