Long Beach restaurateur John Morris grew up in Widnes, England, once called the dirtiest town in the country because of its 16 chemical plants.
“The rivers were so polluted and toxic that, when we threw stuff into them, the water would sizzle,” Morris said last week from his Boathouse on the Bay restaurant in east Long Beach.
Morris also knew what it was like to be poor.
“I was so poor that I never expected anything during special days like the holidays,” he said. “If I got anything worth a few dollars, I was really happy.”
Because of his impoverished childhood, Morris has spent much of his adult life finding ways to help out youngsters in need. One of those ways is supporting the annual Let’s Play BallDrive sponsored by the Press-Telegram and Daily Breeze, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of both Long Beach and the Los Angeles Harbor.
From right, Boathouse on the Bay owner John Morris and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach Don Rodriguez pose for a photograph on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
From left, Boathouse on the Bay owner John Morris, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach Don Rodriguez and Press-Telegram columnist Rich Archbold pose for a photograph on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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From right, Boathouse on the Bay owner John Morris and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach Don Rodriguez pose for a photograph on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The P-T and Breeze campaigns also include their weekly sister publications, The Grunion Gazette and The Beach Reporter.
The goal is to provide at least 5,000 balls combined –or 2,500 to each organization. The deadline is Dec. 15.
Morris, for his part, is asking customers to drop off new sports balls anytime at his Boathouse on the Bay restaurant, 190 Marina Drive.
On Dec. 9, Morris also will continue his annual toy and ball fundraiser luncheon. He is asking that each ball or toy donated be unwrapped and have a value of $20 each. In exchange, customers will get a free buffet lunch and a huge thank you on that day.
“The need is so great,” Morris said. “Kids are our future, and we need to do anything and everything we can to help them. I was a needy kid once. We didn’t know what a new ball looked like in those days. We were lucky if we had any kind of old, worn out balls to throw around.”
Don Rodriguez, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach, thanked Morris for his help.
“John has been associated with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach for over 30 years,” Rodriguez said. “He always helps to make sure the kids have great holidays. Whenever we need anything, John is always there.”
Rodriguez had a special thank you to Morris for spearheading the collection of sports balls during his upcoming event.
“John’s commitment to our campaign not only exemplifies a spirit of giving but also ensures that our kids will have what they need to thrive in our sports programs,” Rodriguez said. “Together, we are creating a positive impact that extends far beyond the playing field.”
The clubs offer several sports, including basketball, football, soccer, baseball, volleyball, dodgeball and kickball.
We thank you in advance for helping to make a difference in the lives of youngsters during this holiday season and into the new year.
Let’s Play Ball
The Let’s Play Ball campaign benefits both the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the LA Harbor. Here’s where you can donate.
Long Beach area:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach’s main office, 3635 Long Beach Blvd., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Big 5 Sporting Goods: 4780 Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, and 5247 Lakewood Blvd., Lakewood, during store hours. Big 5 will provide 25% off any regularly priced sports balls, except golf balls and tennis balls, that customers buy to donate to the Play Ball campaign.
Phil Trani’s Restaurant, 3490 Long Beach Blvd.
Boathouse on the Bay Restaurant, 190 Marina Drive, Long Beach.
First Bank locations: 4040 Atlantic Ave., Bixby Knolls; 5195 Lakewood Blvd., Lakewood; 6200 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach.
9Round Kickbox & Fitness Center, 6502 E. Spring St.
Watch Me! Sports Bar, 6527 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach.
You can also donate money or purchase balls or other items off the Long Beach clubs’ Amazon wish list. To do so, click on bgclub.org/Joy. For more information, email Kari Cho, vice president of marketing and development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach, at karic@bgclublb.org, or or call 562-595-5945.
South Bay:
Boys & Girls Clubs of L.A. Harbor locations: 1200 S. Cabrillo Ave., San Pedro (send Amazon orders to this address); 100 W. Fifth St., Port of LA; 1444 W. Q St., Wilmington; 1220 W. 256th St., Harbor City, and 802 W. Gardena Blvd., Harbor Gateway.
Big 5 Sporting Goods: 529 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro; 2745 Pacific Coast Highway, Torrance; 17542 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, and 2515 E. El Segundo Blvd., El Segundo. Big 5 will provide 25% off any regularly priced sports ball, except golf balls and tennis balls, that customers buy to donate to the Play Ball campaign.
First Bank locations: 21503 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, and 1644 W. Redondo Beach Blvd., Gardena.
One final note: We’re always looking for more drop-off locations, whether a sports bar, a restaurant or even a retail store. To become a drop-off location, email me at rarchbold@scng.com and Coastal Cities Editor Chris Haire at chaire@scng.com.