Zach Gordon Youth Center 75th anniversary kicks off with Drive-In Bingo Thursday

In honor of the 75th anniversary of the Zach Gordon Youth Center, the center and Juneau Parks & Recreation is kicking off a month-long celebration with Drive-In Bingo this Thursday, November 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittier Street parking lot near ZGYC.

Free registration for bingo, which is required, is open now and can be done online here (look under Special Events). Parking begins at 6 p.m. and game time is 6:30-8 p.m. on Thursday.

The Zach Gordon Youth Center is named for Cadmus Zaccheus Gordon. Gordon first came to Juneau in 1943 during World War II. He initially ran a United Service Organization club, which hosted hundreds of servicemen stationed in Juneau as well as those en route to other war zones. At the end of the war, Gordon stayed in Juneau and converted the U.S.O. club to a club for teenagers.

According to a biography on Gordon written by Renee Guerin, Juneau High School, Class of 1954, “Zach knew the names of all the Juneau youngsters and made visitors from every town and village in Alaska equally welcome at the club. He attended school functions, never missed a basketball game, and spoke at many commencements. There is no official record of the number of deserving college-bound youngsters for whom Zach quietly arranged financial assistance … Zach envisioned a ‘home away from home’ for Juneau’s teenagers and provided it until his death on July 11, 1977.”

Aside from Drive-In Bingo, ZGYC and Parks & Recreation will also be holding a movie in the park event, sponsored by the Friends of Zach Gordon Youth Center. Movie, date, and location will be announced at a later date.

For more information, contact Parks & Recreation at 907-586-5226, or look at the Facebook event.