Phoenix Suns Charities Presents Chris-Town YMCA with $100,000 Playmaker Award

By Allison Leach, Jrsuns.com
Posted: September 22nd, 2008

Phoenix Suns Charities, the philantropic arm of the Phoenix Suns, presented their annual Playmaker Award of $100,000 to the Valley of the Sun, Chris-Town YMCA Wednesday, September 17th.

The $100,000 Playmaker Award will help fund the expansion project for the Chris-Town YMCA which will be an estimated $4.3 million expansion. The expansion will add 16,000 square feet to the facility that was built in 1956. The updated YMCA will include a fitness center, teen center, community health clinic, and the addition of a 10,000 square foot gymnasium.

Suns broadcaster and Chris-Town Y member Tom Leander was there to speak about the importance of this expansion, as well as Scott Williams, Suns alumnus and broadcaster. Scott Williams spoke about how glad he was to be back in the Valley with the Phoenix Suns and how he contributes to the community. Tom Ambrose, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of Phoenix Suns Charities, and The Gorilla were also there for the presentation of the $100,000 Phoenix Suns Charities check.

Thirty kids from Solano Elementary School were also on hand to welcome the Suns crew and thank them for the Playmaker Award. The thirty students that were selected to come to the presentation were high achieving students for the month of August.

Greg O’Brien, President and CEO of the Valley of the Sun YMCA, was also there for the event and spoke to the members of the Chris-Town YMCA about their upcoming construction project. He also talked about the strong partnership with the Jr. Suns/ Jr. Mercury program and how grateful the kids at the Chris-Town YMCA are to be a part of the 23,000 Jr. Suns/ Jr. Mercury members throughout the state. Also there to contribute was the Executive Vice President of the Valley of the Sun YMCA, George Scobas.

Phoenix Suns Charities was honored to be able to give this award to the well-deserving Chris-Town YMCA. The Phoenix Suns Charities began their philanthropy back in 1989 and have donated over $8 million to different Arizona organizations.

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