Pelicans CJ McCollum Opening 'Dream Center' In New Orleans
New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum cut the ribbon on a brand new 'Dream Center' Thursday evening in New Orleans. McCollum partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Louisiana with the aim to inspire lasting change in communities by providing safe and innovative spaces to explore, learn, and grow. The Dream Center is the third that McCollum helped open, but the first one in Louisiana.
The Dream Center in New Orleans secured 70 tablets and laptops from the Gayle & Tom Benson Charitable Foundation, as well as other cutting edge technology, like Smart Boards, 3D Printers, VR Headsets, and headphones. A new library also was completed with the help of local businesses and artists. The library houses over 1,000 books from Baldwin & Co. Books. There is also a vegetable garden, along with a quarterly program meeting to expose club members to new ideas and career paths.
McCollum has been heavily visible in the community since his arrival to the Pelicans two years ago. Earlier this year he initiated a scholars program that committed $1 million dollars to providing ten New Orleans-area students with scholarships. He continued his journalism program he started in Portland to the aspiring journalist in New Orleans through the JRNOLA organization. McCollum collaborated with the program that “empowers underserved youth ages 14 through 18 for careers in print, photography, and broadcast media,” according to their website.
On the court, McCollum is having a great season. He is second in the NBA in three-point percentage among players shooting a minimum of seven threes a game. He also is the only player in the NBA averaging 18 or more points, 1.6 or less turnovers, and arc least shooting 41% from beyond the arc. New Orleans is currently 39-26 on the season, ranking No. 5 in the Western Conference standings.
