Judy Mook
Staff Writer

Big money keeps pouring in for the latest addition to the Boys and Girls Club of the Santa Clarita Valley.

Roy Johnson, regional commissioner of Region 677 of the American Youth Soccer Organization, presented a $20,000 check to the Sierra Vista Junior High School Boys and Girls Club at it's dedication Saturday.

Johnson said it will be the primary field for AYSO games.

Tom Dierckman, president of the Boys and Girls Club board, accepted the grant awarded out of the soccer club's field fund.

"That's the kind of community support that will keep this facility open," Dierckman said.

The 22,000 square-foot building was created by a unique three-way partnership comprised of the city of Santa Clarita, the William S. Hart Union High School District and the SCV Boys and Girls Club. More than $6.2 million was raised to build and furnish the facility that will be used as an expansion for Sierra Vista Junior High during school hours, affordable supervised after-school activities for children ages 7 to 17 and evening programs for the community.

Jim Ventress, executive director for the Boys & Girls Club of SCV, asked children who use the facility to take pride in their club.

"Keep it clean, keep it safe," Ventress said. "The building is here for you."

The club opened it's doors on July 1 and has more than 500 members. It is open Monday through Friday after school until 7 p.m. with extended hours during vacation and summer hours. Membership is $12 per year.

U.S. Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon assisted the community leaders in raising $921,000 from the Project Learn Program for the operation of an academic program that helps students with homework and other learning activities.

The main activity center is dedicated to McKeon and contains three pool tables, six arcade-style video games, a bumper pool table and vending machines.

In the club's Donald F. Wanbaugh Learning Center, children receive incentives for reading during the Power Hour, a learning program that helps students with homework as well as other academic activities.

A computer room is equipped with more than 30 desktop computers and an art center is available for a variety of arts and crafts projects.

The W.M. Keck Foundation Teen Center is home to the Magic Keystone Club for members ages 14-17 years.

The building also has a gymnasium and field that will be used for Sierra Vista Junior High sports programs.

Katie Kline, Sierra Vista Junior High ASB President, said the club is well worth the wait, even though the student body had to put up with construction inconveniences.

"This building is proof that when we work together and are willing to share, great things can happen," Kline said.

The concept of the multi-use community building came early in the planning stages when committee members saw the potential of its wide range of use, said Sheldon Allen, vice president of the boys and girls club's governing board.

"We started with the gym, then it all sort of fell together," Allen said. "It made obvious sense to be able to use (the club) for so many things in the community."

The building was designed by NTD Architects and built by Lundgren Management Construction Managers.