Chatham community center dream now reality

By John Crane
Danville Register & Bee
Published: May 20, 2008

CHATHAM — The new Community Center at Chatham opened its doors to the public for the first time Monday afternoon with a dedication and open house.

More than 100 area residents, representatives from organizations, and town and county officials showed up for the long-awaited event.

Chuck Warnock, president of Chatham Cares Inc., which will operate the center, pointed to the Boys & Girls Club of Chatham as one of the main inspirations for the project.

“They are the reason that this was at first a dream and now a reality,” Warnock said during opening remarks at the event.

The local Boys & Girls Club will be the anchor tenant in the center.

The idea for the center grew out of a need for after-school activities for students, Valorie Cook, the center’s interim director, said Monday.

However, the facility will have things to do for people of all ages, including exercise classes, computer courses, business meetings and health screenings.

The center houses a full gymnasium, a computer lab, offices and a full-service kitchen. Other features include a grand hall, gallery, art studio, and a media center.

The Danville Regional Foundation awarded a $3 million grant to Chatham Cares in 2006 to fund construction of the 16,000-square-foot building.
Operating funds for the center will come from program fees, facility rental, grants and corporate and individual donations. Donations are tax-deductible.

Monday’s event was the culmination of years of work by Chatham Cares Inc. and the Danville Regional Foundation.

Chatham Mayor George Haley praised the project and efforts by Chatham Cares and the Danville Regional Foundation to get the project up and running.

“This building goes beyond expectations,” Haley said. “What was once a dream is now a reality.”

Haley also admonished the community to take advantage of the center’s presence.

“Take this empty building and …use it, use it, use it,” he said.

Danville Regional Foundation Chairman Bob Ashby said the Community Center at Chatham will be a “bright, shining beacon of hope” and change in the community.

A general reception and dinner will be held Thursday at the center. Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer will be the guest speaker.

Contact John R. Crane at or (434) 791-7987.