The Salvation Army pulled out all the stops in their effort to raise the remaining $17 million it will take to build a state-of-the-art community Kroc Center on Walnut and Pacific Coast Highway today, as Sixth District Councilman Dee Andrews was joined by professional football player Willie McGinest and rapper Snoop Dogg – three of Poly High’s most famous alum – during a press conference at Da Vinci Ristorante. Andrews enlisted the support of the two celebrities who grew up in the 6th District to raise awareness of the project, and the effect that it could have on a community in need.

“Snoop and I are a couple of those kids that grew up in the 6th District, and to see something like this presented is a dream come true,” said McGinest, a standout linebacker at Poly High who went on to play for USC and will enter his 15th NFL season this year. “This is not really about us. We’re just a platform to create awareness about what’s going on in the community.”

For his part, Snoop (whose real name is Calvin Broadus) will make a $5 million in-kind donation that will include a concert and song about the community. Proceeds from both the concert and song will go to the Salvation Army’s efforts to complete Kroc Center funding.

“This is what I’ve really wanted to do for so long,” Snoop said, explaining that he is excited to perform live in Long Beach for the first time. “It’s about time for us to start building up the 6th District.”

McGinest made it clear that his enthusiasm for the future Kroc Center extends beyond athletic facilities, praising the opportunities that will be provided to neighborhood kids with interests in art and music.

“We’ve got some of the best scholars in the country,” he said. “The thing that was lacking was a facility or an opportunity like this.”

Salvation Army representative Dave Neary said that plans for the Kroc Center are currently going through an Environmental Impact Report process, and that groud will break in August or September with any luck.

Photos by Shar Higa

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