Russell Wilson and Ciara Celebrate Ribbon Cutting of Why Not You Center at Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, PA – December 10, 2024 – Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania (BGCWPA) celebrated the grand opening of the highly anticipated Why Not You Center with an inspiring ribbon-cutting ceremony today at its Shadyside location. This groundbreaking initiative, made possible through the vision and generosity of Russell Wilson and Ciara’s Why Not You Foundation, marks a significant milestone in empowering local youth with innovative programming and resources.
By equipping local youth with the skills and opportunities to become the next generation of leaders, The Center will help foster “why not you” attitudes for local youth encouraging them to strive for greatness and reach their full potential. Since 2014, Why Not You Foundation has been dedicated to fighting cyclical poverty and driving greater equity for youth in the spaces of education and health, raising millions and financially supporting nonprofit partners aligned with the foundation’s mission.
“Ciara and I are blessed to give back to the community and make a positive impact in the lives of young people. Opening our first Why Not You Center in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Pennsylvania is a significant step toward creating lasting change, said Russell Wilson, Founder of the Why Not You Foundation and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback. “Every child deserves the support and resources to approach each day with a “why not you” attitude and have the opportunity to dream big and achieve their goals.”
BGCWPA representatives and community partners joined Russell Wilson and Ciara at the Why Not You Center to celebrate the launch of this dynamic space designed to nurture creativity, career readiness, and personal development among young people.
Christopher Watts, President & CEO at BGCWPA, opened the program with heartfelt remarks highlighting the center’s mission to inspire the next generation to dream big and achieve their goals. “The Why Not You Center represents our unwavering commitment to providing youth with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive. This space is more than just a room; it’s a launching pad for dreams,” Watts stated.
The ceremonial ribbon was cut by a group of Club Kids, symbolizing the community’s shared commitment to fostering innovation and opportunity for all. The celebration hosted nearly 100 youth and was made possible through additional community partners Audacy, Raising Cane’s, P3R and their Kids of Steel program, and Pittsburgh Public Schools. 93.7 the Fan, 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA, 100.7 Star and WAMO 107.3 broadcast live from the Club encouraging listeners to donate to support the missions of the Why Not You Foundation and BGCWPA. An extra thank you to our funding partners 3BRAND and Good Man Brand.
The Why Not You Center is an extension of BGCWPA’s mission to serve more than 7,500 youth annually across 18 locations, offering programs for ages 3-24. With this new addition, BGCWPA continues its legacy of 135 years of dedicated service to the Pittsburgh community, empowering children and teens to achieve their full potential in a safe and supportive environment.
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Why Not You Foundation was founded by Russell and Ciara Wilson in 2014. The Foundation is dedicated to fighting generational poverty through targeted youth education and health initiatives. Why Not You Foundation strives to empower youth to lead with a why not you attitude, as they reach for their dreams. Through targeted programming and strategic community partners, Why Not You Foundation strives to change the world, one child at a time. Learn more at whynotyoufdn.org
Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania – For over 135 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania has worked to advance the potential of youth and teens throughout the Pittsburgh region, now serving more than 7,500 youth and families across 18 locations. We are a safe place for kids to prepare for careers and life, with programs including preschool, before/afterschool, summer camp, teen mentoring, workforce development, STEAM, and sports. Our core values of safety, fun, and inclusion enable us to accelerate progress towards our priority outcomes for youth of Academic Success, Career & Life Readiness, Character & Leadership, and Healthy Lifestyles.