Feb 25, 2008 6:38 am US/Eastern
Notable New Yorker: Bob Townley
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Bob Townley is the director of the Manhattan Youth Center, a job he acquired when he graduated from Columbia many years ago.
"There were no after school programs, no basketball leagues, no science after school classes there was no swimming pools where kids could learn how to swim there was nothing. Where we are standing was dirt streets, it's hard to believe," Townley said.
He saw a need, and tried to deliver.20 years ago. A community center for kids and seniors south of Canal Street was unheard of then.
"It was a challenge, it was an organization challenge when i was young to start something where nothing had existed before and it was fun. I enjoy working with kids i enjoy teaching and it was just fun," Townley said.
But September 11 brought the center to it's knees, leaving many of the staff homeless and the facility destroyed. Slowly the funds became available to rebuild; $10 million was raised through hard work to construct a new building, one Townley is all too proud to show off.
"This building will be a center for community life in lower Manhattan. It will truly be a community center where kids can come on a Friday night with their parents and hang out, swim, there is a multimedia studio, there is a whole bunch of stuff for them to do," Townley said.
Today - 800 kids every day take part in after school programs as part of the center's mission. And 1,500 families reap the benefits of the vast array of programs. It is all overwhelming for a guy who just wanted to make a difference twenty years ago.
"I try to step back, there are a lot of great things every neighborhood has somebody who puts things forth and help people, this neighborhood is full of great people, i take a step back," Townley said.
"I'm happy and lucky and blessed that I was able to see something and make it happen, but I still have a lot to do," Townley said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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