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Morgan Park Boys & Girls Club Wins $5,000 in New Sports Equipment

By Howard Ludwig | August 16, 2016 8:05am
Morgan Park Boys & Girls Club
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ORGAN PARK — The Morgan Park Boys & Girls Club won $5,000 worth of new sports equipment after its online video finished in third place as part of a national competition.

The club at 1425 W. 112th St. asked supporters to cast ballots for its 10 Burpee Challenge video. The video was one of seven finalists for a contest through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

The top three clubs in online voting will all received a money for new equipment as part of Good Sports' #LetsPlayPhysicalChallenge, a promotion sponsored by the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group.

The suburban Cicero Boys Club won the top prize of $20,000 worth of new sports equipment for a basketball video. The second prize of $10,000 went to The Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills in Monrovia, Calif.

Online voting ended at midnight Sunday and voters were able cast one ballot per day, said Jason Vasquez, volunteer coordinator for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago.

The Chicago group consists of 21 clubs that work with nearly 1,800 youths every day after school. The Morgan Park club is just a few steps from Shoop Academy at 11140 S. Bishop St. and mostly serves the students there.

Robert Barnes, director of the Morgan Park club, was thrilled to learn his video was a finalist last week, despite its rather blurry production value.

"This sports equipment would give hundreds of Chicago kids the opportunity to get regular exercise and stay fit through fun and engaging athletic activities," Barnes said.

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