Andre Agassi visits Boys & Girls Club

In an effort to raise awareness for the Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada, retired tennis great Andre Agassi visited the site Wednesday with Assemblywoman Bonnie Parnell.

"It brings attention to the Boys & Girls Club," Parnell, D-Carson City, said. "Especially in this economy, the club deserves another kick."

Agassi and Parnell met some of the club's supporters who have been working to raise $5 million for the new 12,600-square-foot facility at the corner of Northridge Drive and Russell Way.

Agassi, who won eight Grand Slam singles tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in singles, has been a longtime supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs. In 1997, his foundation opened the Andre Agassi Boys & Girls Club in one of Las Vegas' most economically challenged neighborhoods.

"When you see his work in philanthropy, you see he's an even bigger person than he was an athlete," said former NFL player JoJo Townsell, a board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Carson Valley. "He sets the bar up high for the rest of us."

Parnell invited Agassi to the club while he was in Carson City to testify in front of the Legislature in support of charter schools.

While touring the current site with Agassi, Parnell donated $5,000 toward the new building.

She worked in similar programs in high school and college, she said, and sees the benefit to the community.

"I've been a long, long supporter of after-school programs, both on campus and neighborhood programs like this," she said. "It's in my blood."

Hal Hansen, director of the Carson City club, said it is just about $50,000 shy of its goal to raise $5.5 million for the new club.

The club has been in its 7,000-square-foot building on South Stewart Street for more than 14 years, and has about 1,600 children and teenagers as members. It runs education, social and mentor programs.

Hansen said he hopes the increased attention will bring in the needed funds to finish the new building and sports fields. He was appreciative of Agassi's support and excited to meet the star.

"As a tennis fan, I'm going crazy like a little kid," he said. "He puts his money where his heart is and his heart is with children. It's very motivating for us."

Agassi finished his visit with a tour of the tennis courts by volunteer coach Bob Phelps.

John Artz, 12, hadn't heard of Agassi, but knew one way to find out just how good he really was.

"He should play Coach Bob," Artz said. "Coach Bob is pretty good."