Kish Club Grand Opening

We are so proud that the following story made news on Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s national website.......

From left: Roy Phillips (D&R General Contracting and Design, Inc.), Mark McGinty (SH Architecture), Joan Kish (The John C. Kish Foundation), Matthew Frazier (The John C. Kish Foundation), Bob Coyle (BGCSN Board President), Senator Harry Reid, Ron Lurie (BGCSN Past President), Christina Hixson (Lied Foundation Trust), Mayor James Gibson (City of Henderson), Vincent Wickliffe (Boyd Gaming Corporation), Jeffrey Burr (BGCSN Past President). Kids from left: Yolanda (age 6), Jordan (age 7), Mary (age 7), and Eddie (age 6)

From left: Kevin McCartney (BGCA Office of Government Relations), Senator Harry Reid (Henderson Club Alumnus),

Key Reid (Senator Reid’s son and BGCSN Board Member), and Robbie Callaway (BGCA)

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada hosted a grand opening and ribbon cutting celebration on April 9, 2009 for its newly renovated John C. Kish Boys & Girls Club in Henderson. U.S. Senator Harry Reid, an alumnus of the Henderson Club, was inducted into Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s “Alumni Hall of Fame” and was honored with a lifetime membership card from Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada. Local politicians, top business leaders, Boys & Girls Club Board Members, and key supporters were also present at the ceremony.

Senator Harry Reid is presented with a lifetime membership card from D.J. Allen (Boys & Girls Club Alumnus)

Jacqueline Taylor (age 18), BGCSN Youth of the Year, speaks during the ceremony

The Kish Club has recently undergone a $3 million renovation and anticipates serving approximately 1,500 youth in the area. The new building includes a teen center, two computer labs, a learning center, a gamesroom, an arts & crafts room, a kitchen/cafeteria, a gymnasium, and an outdoor sports area. During the last year, staff was able to continue providing services to youth by moving its program into the gymnasium during construction. Now that the building has been completed and the program has moved back into the Club, renovations on the gymnasium will be finished to complete this project.

Senator Reid with Club members after the ribbon cutting

Courtesy: Mona Shield Payne/Special to the Las Vegas Sun (www.lasvegassun.com)

Senator Reid with Joan Kish (The John C. Kish Foundation, and sister to the late John Kish)

Courtesy: Mona Shield Payne/Special to the Las Vegas Sun (www.lasvegassun.com)

Major contributors to the Kish project include William S. Boyd, The John C. Kish Foundation, Lied Foundation Trust, Ruth Marker, and E. L. Wiegand Foundation.

A great community turn out

Robbie Callaway (BGCA), Mike Meyer (BGCSN CEO), and Kevin McCartney (BGCA Office of Government Relations) in front of the Harry Reid Alumnus Rock

The name John C. Kish is synonymous with service and philanthropy in Henderson. Along with his support of many Henderson area organizations, John was a dear friend to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Henderson (currently known as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada). He provided ongoing support to the Clubs and most recently served as a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Henderson’s Board of Trustees. John is remembered as a champion of the Boys & Girls Club movement and as a caring man who loved his community.

John C. Kish Boys & Girls Club

For more information about the John C. Kish Boys & Girls Club Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony,