Dream comes true for drop-in director

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Did somebody say, 'dreams do come true?'

You certainly don't have to twist the arm of Gordon Russell to convince him of that fact.

While children at this year's Crystal Kids Christmas party were delighted with the gifts they received from Santa Claus, Gordon Russell was nearly driven to tears over his gift. Russell is the director of the Crystal Kids Youth Drop-In Centre located in northeast Edmonton. He has been pursuing a dream to put up a new facility for his Crystal Kids program.

On Dec. 16, Russell got the surprise of his life when Kelly Cable, on behalf of Toyota Village, approached him at the Christmas party and presented him with an envelope. In the envelope were the deeds to the two properties adjacent to the westside site of Crystal Kids' present building. These lots will be developed this spring to house the new centre.

The final product, Russell explains, will be a new facility with office space, a kitchen, washrooms, playroom, storage space and a much-needed regulation-size gym.

Christine Stewart, office manager at the centre, claims the present space is too small.

"A lot more room would make it easier to run programs for the kids."

The centre's schedule presently includes boxing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Tae Kwan Do and movies on Fridays, dance on Tuesdays, and special activities like pool, shuffleboard, television, and sleigh rides.

The society has already raised $60,000 for the new facility. The provincial government has committed another $125,000. A contribution from the city of Edmonton is to be confirmed.

As for money for equipment and other essentials, the centre hopes donors will come forward. Russell said he's expecting to hear from former world heavyweight boxing champions Larry Holmes and George Foreman who have been asked to participate in a sportsman's dinner that will include a silent auction of sports memorabilia, as well as other donated items such as art and auto accessories.