Dreams deferred are not dreams
denied as proven yesterday, when three years of fundraising came to fruition
with the grand opening of DreamCourt™ at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cedar
Rapids – Polk Alternative Education Center.
DreamCourts are top-quality,
multipurpose play spaces built in lower-income communities to promote fitness
and fun, thanks to a collaboration among WorldVentures Foundation™, Nancy
Lieberman Charities and Sport Court®. Local dignitaries, event
sponsors and community members gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, held
from 4 to 6 p.m.
“As the second-largest city in Iowa, Cedar Rapids has the distinction of
being one of the nation’s best places to live. But we know big cities often
house big challenges for children. We’re humbled to help provide a safe place
for area children to play and grow socially so they can compete on every
level,” said Gwyneth Lloyd, executive director of WorldVentures Foundation.
WorldVentures Foundation is a dedicated, national partner of the Boys
& Girls Clubs of America and leads Volunteer Days at clubs throughout North
America. Eddie Head, president of WorldVentures, cut the ceremonial ribbon at
the Cedar Rapids opening, unveiling a two-hoop, 35-by-65-foot DreamCourt with
Sport Court’s SportGame high-performance safety surface and bright blue and
orange accents. Of 21 DreamCourts built to date, 13 are located at Boys &
Girls Clubs nationwide.
“We are honored and thrilled to be a recipient of a new basketball court
through the Nancy Lieberman Foundation and World Ventures Foundation,” said
John Tursi, executive director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Cedar Rapids. “Our
kids will be able to use this beautiful, new court for many years.”
Basketball Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman, founder and chairwoman of
Nancy Lieberman Charities, was unable to attend due to her obligations as
assistant coach of the Sacramento Kings, but she shared her sentiments with the
audience through a letter read by Lloyd.
“I am living the dream that every one of the kids who will play on this
court will have one day. I'm proud to be in Sacramento making history as only
the second woman to coach in the NBA. But history doesn't mean anything unless
we open the doors for others to fulfill a dream.”
