The Detroit Osborn weight room was once the site of uneven floors, broken weight equipment and outdated fitness equipment.
“It looked like a tornado ran through there,” Osborn freshman Jaylen Fomby recalled.
Safe to say those days are over, thanks to the Detroit Pistons and other sponsors.
In partnership with United Dairy Industry of Michigan and Planet Fitness, the Pistons renovated the weight room after being selected by the Detroit Public School Community District as this year’s renovation recipient. A ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Pistons Dancers and hosted by Pistons director of youth engagement and development Aaron Smith was held Thursday afternoon.
“I love these events and projects,” CSR director Chris Economeas said during the ceremony. “I grew up close by so I'm very familiar with Osborn so to be able to see the impact this has here is really special.”
The Pistons organization also spent the day at Osborn in August as a part of an all-staff day of service where employees assisted in the beautification project ahead of the weight room unveil. Employees assisted in landscape projects, building and painting planter boxes, painting lockers and other various projects around the school.
“This year we decided, since we were unveiling the weight room at Detroit Osborn, that we would come back here to just help beautify the school and clean up before classes started,” Economeas said as Osborn students lined up to run on treadmills and pump weights in the new fitness center.
Eastside native and former Pistons big man Earl Cureton also visited the school to see the impact on the community.
“I grew up around here and played against Osborn, went to Detroit Finney not far from here,” Cureton said. “It’s hard to believe that they went all that time without a weight room but I'm happy now that they got one and it really should help the teachers and students to know that somebody really cares about them.”
In addition to the weight room equipment, UDIM provided Pistons-themed wall graphics, audio and video equipment and a Milk Means More fueling station that will provide milk and snacks for student-athletes throughout the school year. Detroit Denby and Detroit Western International were recipients in previous years.
“I would just like to thank all the sponsors for the impact that’s been made on our students,” Osborn principal Jamita Lewis said. “If you would have seen their faces when they went in weight room, they feel loved and appreciated and they don't feel overlooked, and we're most grateful for that.”