Clippers guard Chris Paul recalls his first few days as a Los Angeles Clipper back in December 2012 were a whirlwind, but the one place he does remember with great memories is the Salvation Army Seimon Family Youth and Community Center in South Los Angeles.
“When I first became a Clipper, I didn’t know too much about Los Angeles,” Paul recalls. “I remember being in a car and being shuttled to all kinds of places, but the one place that I do remember and that stands out is right here at the Salvation Army Seimon Family Youth and Community Center. It was my first opportunity to give back to this community and I’ll never forget it.”
Paul spent time with other teammates on that day for a Feed the Community event through the Clippers Foundation. Yesterday, his foundation, the CP3 Foundation, along with the Los Angeles Clippers Foundation opened up a Media and Technology Lounge at the Salvation Army Seimon Family Youth and Community Center in South Los Angeles.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be here,” Paul said about the opening. “To have this opportunity to give back to these kids with brand new computers and all kinds of games is kind of simple to tell you the truth. It’s the right thing to do.”
Gallery: Renovated Center
The brand new Media and Technology Lounge consists of brand new computers, a SMART Board, e-readers and tablets. In addition, the Clippers Foundation re-opened the Community Center’s renovated library, fitness center and game zone.
“I grew up in a small town in North Carolina in a household that didn’t have too little or too much,” Paul said of his upbringing. “My parents did the best that they could for my older brother and I. Some of these kids here aren’t as fortunate and don’t get the benefits that other kids do. Having a center like this is a little help in that. One of the things I try to instill in my kids is to always be thankful and grateful. These kids here at the center, you just want them to have the opportunity to have some things that others do.”
The Salvation Army Seimon Family Youth and Community Center serves one of the most troubled urban regions in Southern California. Offering services in three independent programs, the center supplies living assistance to low-income families through Family Services, growth and learning development for infants to five-year olds through Child Care, and academic, artistic and athletic activities for students of all ages through its Youth, Adult and Senior Programs.
Paul, whose mother Robin and brother CJ were on hand for the opening, is one of the NBA’s most active community leaders. Over the past season alone, he has distributed Thanksgiving meals to families in his hometown of Winston Salem, NC as well as Los Angeles, hosted holiday events for children in need, encouraged healthy living by participating in a 3K Walk in Los Angeles with more than 3,000 children and extensive work with the Clippers foundation benefitting the local community.
Paul’s dedication to serving the community has transcended his hometown and has imprinted Los Angeles. He has continued to fund the Nathaniel Jones Scholarship Fund at Wake Forest University, his alma mater, and his foundation runs the CP3 Afterschool Zone in New Orleans.
“I just hope to bring joy and a smile to these kids,” Paul remarked as the kids were enjoying all the new equipment and games. “To tell you the truth, these kids are way more excited about these new computers and games than me being here, and that is what makes it worth it.”