Chargers provide healthy opportunities in National City

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Thursday, Apr 17, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

Granger Junior High School Principal Susan Mitchell urges her students to live by the motto, “Yes We Can.” On Wednesday, a significant donation from the Chargers gave those students a reason to buy into their principal’s mantra.

Chargers Director of Marketing Partnerships & Business Development A.G. Spanos and defensive end Luis Castillo were on hand Wednesday to celebrate the opening of a new fitness center that was built thanks to a $40,000 grant from the Chargers Community Foundation.

“Granger Junior High School for so many years was told that this facility could not be built here,” Mitchell said. “Because of the Spanos family giving us the opportunity, it became a reality. This has been a wonderful day for the National City community. We’re all so thankful to the Chargers for making it happen.”

Each year, the Chargers Community Foundation awards more than $400,000 in scholarships, grants and computers to deserving San Diego County students and schools through the Chargers Champions program. The program also makes a strong commitment to San Diego County schools by providing grants for badly-needed fitness, athletic or nutrition programs.

Granger was one of 11 schools to receive a grant in 2007 and, after months of planning and construction, Spanos and Castillo cut the ribbon on the new facility Wednesday afternoon following a special ceremony on school grounds.

“It’s our hope that this facility will be a place for each of you to enjoy a healthy lifestyle for now and for years to come,” Spanos said. “It’s a pleasure to be here today on behalf of my family to officially open the Chargers Champions fitness room for the students of Granger.”

The afternoon ceremony included a performance by the GJHS band and cheerleading squads, and Castillo and Spanos were overwhelmed by the warmth with which the Chargers were received.

“To see how excited these kids are, to see the smiles and cheers, it’s been pretty special,” Castillo said. “This is a really nice facility. I go back to my own childhood. I didn’t have this in junior high. Hopefully they’ll take advantage of it and do something positive for their lives.”

The facility is painted in Chargers colors and features framed jerseys of eight current and eight former Bolts stars. The fitness room will be available to Granger students as well as their families, which is a nice amenity in an area where many families can’t afford gym memberships.

“Our parents will use this facility; our students in the future will use this facility,” Mitchell said. “We believe it is going to change lives, and we’re grateful that the Chargers recognize the importance of that.”

Created by Alex and Dean Spanos in 2000, Chargers Champions offers strong support to the County’s educational community. Since the beginning of the program, the Chargers have honored more than 158 students, 46 educators and 63 schools and contributed more than $3 million in aid.

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