NFL Facility to Transform Lives

Deputy Secretary Sims is shown the multimedia studio where youth will develop beneficial job skills.

The Boys and Girls Club is the first facility built outside a Super Bowl host city. It is designed to help the youth of Hawaii succeed by provided services ranging from educational assistance, job training, technical instruction, life-skills development, and fitness and recreational outlets. The Boy's and Girl's Club includes a large multi-purpose community room, library, arts and crafts room, learning center, computers, technology and multimedia studio and a ceramics studio.

U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, along with HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims, and Honolulu Field Office Director Gordan Furutani attended the blessing of the newly built NFL (National Football League) Youth Education Town Hawaii (YET), Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii in Nanakuli, Hawaii on June 2, 2010.

Deputy Secretary Sims poses with a few children who currently participate the Boys & Girls Club program.

The facility is the first Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) certified after school facility in the NFL YET network. One of the highlights of the LEED; and sustainability features of the center will be the Native Hawaiian dry land and agricultural crop garden and landscaping. It will be modeled as a 21st century Ahupua'a (ancient Hawaiian land division system). Youth members will learn the traditional Hawaiian values of Aloha 'aina - love of their land and Malama 'aina - practicing good stewardship of their land and natural resources when caring for their garden.

The NFL Youth Education Town Hawaii, Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii in Nanakuli is set to have a tremendous positive impact on the island residents. HUD contributed $1,000,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and an additional $1,352,000 in Economic Development Initiatives/Special Purpose Grants (EDI/SPG) funds. The 10,000 square foot facility cost $5,635,000. Other funding sources include City and County of Honolulu, State of Hawaii, Office of Financial Affairs and other foundations.

Content Archived: October 18, 2013