BRIDGEPORT — Walking into the new Teen Room at the Valentine Boys & Girls Club, Sofia Davis couldn't believe her eyes.
"It was, like, unbelievable," said Davis, a 13-year-old eighth -rader and long-time member of the club at 3400 S. Emerald Ave., where club leaders and representatives from Lowe's unveiled a $50,000 renovation that included big TVs, new couches, a PlayStation 4 — and a cabinet full of snacks.
The new Teen Center was part of the $2.5 million "Renovation Across the Nation" initiative with Lowe’s. One Club in each state was selected for a $50,000 improvement.
The Louis L. Valentine Club was the Illinois club selected for an overhaul. Take a look inside:
The Valentine Boys & Girls Club's new Teen Center. [Photos by DNAinfo/Ed Komenda]
It's the first time the club has had new couches in years.
Open to students ages 13-17, the new Teen Center is where kids are encouraged to relax and have fun in a safe environment, said Dawn Jimenez, the club's director.
"Here, we provide that positive influence on kids, and we let them be themselves," Jimenez said. "We want to be there for Chicago's youth, and this room is designed to keep them here."
Little foosball, anyone?
There's no shortage of new board games to play.
Lowe's officials said the new Teen Center will help shape the city's future movers and shakers.
"There's nothing better for us at Lowe's to get out in the community and roll up our sleeves and be a part of something bigger," said Rob Lipski, director of the Lowe's store in Wicker Park. "When we can translate it to a great organization like the Boys & Girls Club of America, what better investment in our future is there?"
Club students flock around the Teen Center's new PlayStation 4.
Teens excited about the stack of new games.
Michaelina Kotrba, the club's education instructor, remembered a time when the club's teen lounge had a torn couch and used, passed-down equipment.
"It was smaller, and we didn't have four TVs or couches like this," said Kotrba, 20, said. "We had limited stuff. We never had fresh stuff that was ours, and we would usually have to share with the other kids, but now this room is strictly for teens."
As teens explored the room, looked in the snack cabinet and checked out the video game selection, a pack of curious students peeked in the refrigerator. A student yelled out in excitement, letting the rest of the room know what was inside:
"There's cake!"
Teens checking out the snack cabinet.
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