Pam Lepley
University News Services
(804) 828-6057
pdlepley@vcu.edu

Mary and Frances Youth Center Opens at VCU

Facility will provide youth in the Richmond community with life skills, mentoring, academic and athletic programs

RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 28, 2007) – Less than a year after breaking ground for the Mary and Frances Youth Center at Virginia Commonwealth University, the facility was opened and dedicated on Friday.

The Mary and Frances Youth Center, located at 120. S. Linden St., will provide youth in the Richmond community with a wide range of life skills, mentoring, academic and athletic programs.

The center was funded by a private, $1.5 million donation from Michael Fraizer and his wife, Elizabeth. Fraizer is the chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial. The center is named to honor the life-long volunteerism and commitment to philanthropy of the Fraizers' mothers, Mary Fraizer and Frances Royer. Both women were dedicated volunteers in their communities.

"Today marks the beginning of an exciting journey for the many young people who will be given the skills, coaching and support that are so valuable in shaping their futures and giving them better opportunities to succeed," said Michael D. Fraizer. "This youth center represents a model for such programs as it brings together the energies and resources of VCU, community partners, volunteers, families and donors and aligns them for impact."

The center initially will be home to Lobs & Lessons, a collaboration with William Byrd Community House, Sacred Heart Center and Northside YMCA to provide an after-school program that promotes the learning of tennis and life skills for more than 100 Richmond area youth each year. The program is a partnership of VCU's Division of Community Engagement, the VCU SportsCenter and Genworth Financial.

"The Mary and Frances Youth Center is a great example of a strong partnership that will improve the entire community and provide opportunities to children who otherwise would never be exposed to a college campus and all of the aspirations it holds," said VCU President Eugene P. Trani. "Whether they end up going to VCU or not, after spending time at the youth center, these young people will know that college can be in their future."

The 5,400 square-foot building includes instructional space for tutoring, a seminar room, offices, and catering space. The grounds include two hard-surface tennis courts and basketball court.

Pam Lepley
University News Services
(804) 828-6057
pdlepley@vcu.edu

There were a lot of wide eyes and smiles as some of the world’s most famous tennis players joined school children from the Lobs & Lessons program to help break ground for the Mary and Frances Youth Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Eight-time Grand Slam winner Andre Agassi and his wife, tennis hall-of-famer Stefanie Graf, along with three-time Grand Slam champ Lindsay Davenport and the world’s No. 4 ranked player James Blake offered encouragement as the young students lobbed tennis balls into a target, setting off colorful streamers and uncovering a huge rendering of the center.

The Mary and Frances Youth Center, located at the corner of Linden and Cary streets on VCU’s Monroe Park Campus, will provide the Richmond community with a wide range of life skills, mentoring, academic and athletic programs for at-risk children. It is being funded by a private, $1.5 million donation from Michael Fraizer, chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., and his wife, Elizabeth.

“When you get up every day, you have an opportunity to make a difference. One great way to do that is to stand for youth – to give them a chance to succeed,” said Michael Frazier. “Standing for children takes partners, purpose and passion.”

Fraizer said the center is named to honor the passion for volunteerism and commitment to philanthropy demonstrated by the Fraizers’ mothers -- Mary Fraizer and Frances Royer. Both women were dedicated volunteers in their communities throughout their lives.

“I can’t think of anything more important than providing disadvantaged youth with a place to come and learn and grow,” said Michael Fraizer. “It’s important to have the center on an urban campus, where children can aspire to succeed and see that they can go to a university and further their education.”

The center initially will be home to Lobs & Lessons, an after-school program that promotes education and life skills for more than 100 Richmond area youth each year through the combination of mentoring, tutoring and teaching tennis skills. The program is a partnership of VCU’s Division of Community Engagement, the VCU SportsCenter and Genworth Financial.

“Genworth Financial has been a wonderful partner in developing the Lobs & Lessons program, and because of this partnership, we’ve already touched hundreds of children in the short three years that the program has been in operation,” said VCU President Eugene P. Trani. “At the same time, we saw the need for a real platform for expanded youth programs and a permanent home for “Lobs and Lessons” and Mike and Elizabeth’s involvement and personal gift will help make this happen. The Mary and Frances Youth Center will be a great opportunity to expand on our foundation for youth in the area to come to our campus and see first hand the educational opportunities possible in their future.”

VCU plans to increase the number of organizations and programs operating out of the center. The 5,400 square-foot building will include instructional space for tutoring, a computer lab, offices, board room and catering space. The grounds will include two hard-surface tennis courts and a basketball court.

Construction will begin immediately, with completion expected in June 2007.

http://www.news.vcu.edu/vcu_view/pages.aspx?nid=1889