State Senator Andrew Roraback, R-30 th, and State Representative Craig Miner, R-66 th, announced that the State Bond Commission has approved $215,000 to benefit the Connecticut Junior Republic Association, Inc. (CJR) in Litchfield. CJR is a private non-profit organization dedicated to helping troubled youth become productive members of their communities. It provides residential and community-based care, treatment and education programs to help troubled boys and their families.

The bond money approved today will be used for the replacement of a water heater, boiler and air handling units in the gymnasium and pool building.

“I am very grateful to Governor Rell for making this investment in Connecticut’s premier facility for at risk young men,” said Sen. Roraback. “The recreational opportunities offered by their residential program are central to meeting CJR’s mission of improving the lives of young men in their care.”

‘The Connecticut Junior Republic provides a vital service to the State of Connecticut in the placement of troubled youth,” said Representative Miner. “Anything we can do to assist the continuation of that relationship works well for the state and the youths they serve.”

"The grant -in -aid we have received from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is critical to our organization and the services we provide for youth," said John F. Boyd, Executive Director of the CJR.

"The Bertha Wheeler Gymnasium and Pool complex is a vital resource for CJR's campus activities program and enables us to provide a variety of year-round sports and recreational activities for our students," he noted. According to Mr. Boyd, basketball, floor hockey, volleyball, and many other activities, are conducted in the gym.

"The Gymnasium and Pool complex is critical to our treatment program," continued Mr. Boyd, "and provides a place where we can help boys develop teamwork, social skills, self-discipline and constructive, new recreation skills that they can use over a lifetime," he said.

Mr. Boyd also noted that the Litchfield Public Schools do not have a pool of their own, and use the Junior Republic's pool free of charge.