Chargers’ Champion Donates 75k High School Weight Room

‘This weight room symbolizes growth and hope,” Head Coach Willie Matson said when asked to describe the generous gift the Chargers gave to Mission Bay High School.

Chargers Champions (part of the Chargers Community Foundation) donated 75,000 dollars to remodel the Mission Bay weight room. Charger’s VP/CEO A.G. Spanos and Charger MLB Donald Butler were on hand to announce the honorable donation and participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“This team(at Mission Bay HS)  is in need of a new training facility,although they have good coaches and a good faculty. We have seen this all around San Diego with budget cuts, that athletics is being cut. It has been nice that the Chargers Champions could do this,” said AG Spanos. “My Grandfather started the Chargers Champions a few years ago and it has given millions of dollars to benefit health and fitness programs. It has further improved the quality of life for the youth of San Diego and I can’t wait to see this be pushed further along.”

The 7-1 Buccaneers were also treated to a  few football pointers from Butler, and got to interact with him in the weight room. Butler was spotting various players and even put up 14 bench reps of his own.

“This room has not been touched in over 35 years, it was really sad to see our weight room in that kind of shape. We had machines that where broken and with the schools budget cuts they didn’t have the funds to repair them. This remodel is physically and mentally allowing the guys to work together and sweat together,” Coach Matson said.

“We already spent a lot of time in the weight room now we will be in here even longer,” said Captain/QB Nicholas Plum about their new facility.

Mission Bay high school was founded in 1953 and has produced many notable football players, including  Houston Texans RB Arian Foster, standout RB Dillon Baxter, and former Green Bay Packer Mike Houghton.

Chargers MLB Donald Butler is not only a Captain on the field, he is a leader off the field as well. Since he has been with the Bolts he has done many projects to help today’s youth. Even on his day off Butler came down to Mission Bay to see the new facility. “I think I’m having more fun that they are, but wow these kids got me all tired on my day off,” said Butler jokingly.

The Chargers are very eager to help out in the community. The Spanos family started a foundation called Chargers Community Foundation. This foundation has given 6 grants this year alone to improve physical fitness and nutrition programs. Since its inception the foundation was provided funds to over 100 local San Diego schools. They will continue to inspire youth to be active, healthy and to have fun.