VIDEO: After Water Damage, A Bed-Stuy School Gets a New Gym

Junior High School 57 Whitelaw Reid, located at 125 Stuyvesant Avenue, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and basketball tournament on Saturday to celebrate the completed renovation of its brand-new gym. And the school's students, parents and other community members couldn't have been more excited.

Only three years ago, the junior high school was placed on the NYC Department of Education's SURR list (school under registration review). Also, its gymnasium was in terrible disrepair after a flood destroyed its floors and bleachers.

JHS 57's current principal Celest Douglas-Wheeler was brought on board to help save the failing school. Douglas-Wheeler not only was instrumental in bringing the school back from the brink, but also, together, with other school partners, she fundriased enough to renovate the school's gymnasium, shared a high school and another junior high.

To celebrate the school's latest rebound, members of 500 Men Making a Difference held its 3rd Annual Brooklyn Tech Alumni Basketball Tournament at the junior high school, where Robert Cornegy, Jr., district leader of the 57th A.D., led the ribbon-cutting and gave the opening speech.

“I’m just glad I’m able to be here. I know the importance of having available facilities for young people to work out in; it helps to build their self-esteem,” said Cornegy. “So to see the work that is put in by 500 Men and so many community partners to refurbish this gym and make sure that so many young people have an opportunity is something I really appreciate.”

PTA members sold hot dogs, popcorn and refreshments outside of the gym's doors to fundraise for student college tours, joined by Douglas-Wheeler and jolly old Saint Nicholas himself.

"This is a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the renovation of the new gym, and we’re also looking to raise funds to send kids on college tours," said Cyriac St. Ville, second vice president of 500 Men Making a Difference.

“We want these kids to experience college, so they can get out of their comfort zone and get a feel of life on campus. We wanted to come out, help them out, show them some love.”