Kirkendall Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 Hometown hero and businessman Shaun Alexander's bid to buy a former YMCA in Florence is a great example of a public/private partnership that extends goodwill to a community and saves the taxpayers money. Alexander, a Boone County native and all-pro running back for the Seattle Seahawks, bid $1.8 million to buy the former Tri-City YMCA on Main Street in Florence, which is now owned by the county. The Shaun Alexander Family Foundation and Boone County are working out the details of a deal that would let Alexander operate the 22,000-square-foot facility as a nonprofit community center. A 2000 Boone County recreational master plan revealed the highest priorities were for more swimming pools. So the county paid the YWCA $2.5 million for the facility. The county maintains a contract with the YMCA to run Tri-City as a community center through 2005. The county was looking for private funding to secure naming rights for the community center. Enter Alexander. His proposal will broaden the scope of the center's goals while keeping the activities offered under the YMCA. "We're going to continue to allow the many youth around here to excel, from physical activities to academics," said Durran Alexander, Shaun's older brother and foundation executive director. Boone County Judge-executive Gary W. Moore, who announced the proposal at Wednesday's annual State of Northern Kentucky breakfast meeting, said the proposal could be a win-win for the county and the Alexanders. "We should all be proud by the fact that they are giving back to the community," Moore said. The proposal would also continue a Boone County good-government model of privatizing formerly public services. Maplewood Children's Home and the Woodspoint nursing home, previously operated by Boone County, are now privately owned. The county also contracts out mowing at its parks. Meanwhile, the Shaun Alexander Community Center has a nice ring to it. We hope the proposal comes to fruition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalszoneBilly Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 Wow! That IS class. I used to go there as a kid for open swim and such. Good to hear it's still going! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted August 25, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 Go to http://www.shaunalexander.org for the charity work he does. Personally I think he's a role model for all NFL players and how to give back to their communities. Players like Winslow should take notes.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brew Man Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 He is a class act, always has been great for Northern Ky..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHO DEY AGAIN? Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 He's a great kid that hasn't forgot where he came from. Too bad there are not more like him. He still considers himself a Bengals fan. If I had to pick one role model in all of sports it would be him. Classy kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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