Boys and Girls Clubs of East County schedules ribbon cutting ceremony for the Brady Family Clubhouse and Gagon Academy in La Mesa.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of East County (BGCEC) has scheduled a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the end of 14 months of construction for its new Brady Family Clubhouse in La Mesa that houses the Gagon Academy, a learning center and homework room, and the Bill Walton Gymnasium.
Boys and Girls Clubs of East County schedules ribbon cutting ceremony for the Brady Family Clubhouse and Gagon Academy in La Mesa.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of East County (BGCEC) has scheduled a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the end of 14 months of construction for its new Brady Family Clubhouse in La Mesa that houses the Gagon Academy, a learning center and homework room, and the Bill Walton Gymnasium.
The ribbon cutting will begin at 9 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 4, at the new Brady Family Clubhouse, 7600 Junior High Dr., La Mesa. The new 26,000-square-foot clubhouse is located past a sports field on the west end of La Mesa Arts Academy (LMAAC) and at the south end of Olive Avenue.
Cutting the ceremonial ribbon will be: Ron and Mary Alice Brady, owners of the Brady Companies, who have donated $3 million to BGCEC; Beth LeFriant, banker and acquaintance of the estate of the late Eleni and Wolfgang Gagon of San Diego, also responsible for a $3 million donation; Forrest Higgins, CEO of BGCEC.
Following the ribbon cutting, attendees will be invited to follow the 6-foot-11-inch Bill Walton, former NBA professional basketball player, into the new 10,000-square-foot Bill Walton Gymnasium. It will be the first time Walton, a La Mesa native, has seen the gymnasium in person. Walton also has told BGCEC officials it’s the first time a gymnasium has been named in his honor.
Once inside the gymnasium, BGCEC said a brief program will be held. Speakers are expected to include Ron Brady, Beth LeFriant, Bill Walton, Forrest Higgins,, San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis and other dignitaries. Also, refreshments will be served.
Construction on the $7 million facility began in July 2017.
“I’m very proud to hear about how smooth the construction has gone over the past year and the coordination between the many community entities has been outstanding,” said Ron Brady, namesake of a La Mesa-based construction company. “Very soon, the construction sounds of jack hammers, buzz saws and machinery will be replaced with the joyful sounds of children’s laughter, basketballs being dribbled on the court and friendships being made.”
