ROSEMONT, Ill. – On January 18 Samantha Findlay, along with her teammates from the Chicago Bandits, will meet with children at the James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club in Chicago, Ill., to speak with them about how being involved in sports and surrounding themselves with wonderful role models such as coaches and teammates can have a positive impact on their lives.
In October 2010, the Bandits donated softball equipment for the club to use as part of their after school program. The equipment included mitts, backpack bat bags, bats and tees.

“Here at the Boys & Girls Club the children play a lot of softball and baseball, so they were extremely excited to receive this equipment from the Chicago Bandits,” said Wanda Noyes, program director at the James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club. “The mitts were very popular, and age appropriate for the children to play their games.”

Following the presentation, the players will have the opportunity to try out the new equipment with the children.
“A lot of the children do not know of many professional women athletes outside of basketball, so it is very exciting for the Bandits players to come and speak with them. It teaches the children that there are no limitations to the dreams and goals they have set for their lives,” Noyes said.

The original club known as the Henry Horner Boys & Girls Club has been serving the West side of Chicago since the 1950’s. When NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan retired in 1994, Jerry Reinsdorf and the Chicago Bulls announced the building of a new Boys & Girls Club to serve the West Haven community. The Club was named in honor of Jordan’s late father, James R. Jordan. In 1996, the facility at 2102 W. Monroe Street in Chicago, Ill. was completed & now serves more than 1,200 members.

The James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club aims to serve the youth of Chicago that live in neighborhoods surrounded with violence and fear. The Boys & Girls Club provides a safe place for the children to grow, learn and maintain relationships with caring adults. They aim to provide programs for youth between the ages of 6 and 18 that build character development.

For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago visit them at www.bgcc.org or call the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago headquarters at 312-235-8000.

For more information about the Chicago Bandits, visit them at www.chicagobandits.com

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