Dominique Dawes Helps Renovate NY Boys & Girls Club

ABC News(NEW YORK) — Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Dominique Dawes traded the balance beam for a hard hat recently as she helped renovate a Boys & Girls Clubs of America center in New York’s Harlem neighborhood.

Dawes, a mother of two, is a spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which provides after-school programs for young people.

“Fifty-thousand kids are truly going to be positively impacted around the U.S.,” said Dawes, who recently appeared on ABC News’ Good Morning America as an analyst during the Rio Olympics. “They are going to be introduced to sports and extracurricular activities, there’s going to be gaming.”

The 36-year-old Harlem club given a refresh by Dawes and other volunteers is part of a special $2.5 million initiative called “Renovation Across the Nation.” As part of the program, one Boys & Girls Clubs of America location in every state will receive a $50,000 grant from Lowe’s, a GMA sponsor, to refresh, enhance and expand club facilities.

Expansion at the Harlem club will bring a new 10,000-square-foot facility to house a teen center, counseling spaces, a digital media lab and a new kitchen.

Lowe’s and the Boys & Girls Club of America have improved 130 locations across the country since 2009.

Debora, 16, of Florida, was the winner of an art contest whose mural will be placed in all 50 of the renovated clubs.

“I just hope it shows other artists like me they have the ability to do a lot of things,” the teen told ABC News.

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