A new reading room at Hale Pono Boys & Girls Clubhouse in 'Ewa Beach is not only a boon to young members of the club, but a life lesson about the dividends paid out by an investment in community.

The Los Angeles Lakers Foundation has given a generous assist to our community by donating $15,000 to the new Lakers Reading Room at the Hale Pono Clubhouse, and two years ago donated a similar amount to the Spalding Clubhouse.

This donation is special in and of itself. Reading rooms help nurture a love of reading and learning in children and open doors to new worlds, adventures and experiences.

Luckily for us, Hawai'i is home to the Lakers' preseason camp — and residents are thankful for the team's generosity toward a community they consider their second home.

Kudos also go to Harry Morck, a professional painter and a Boys & Girls Club alumnus. He donated about 10 hours to painting the reading room and also donated his time to paint the Spalding Clubhouse Lakers Reading Room in 2005.

Morck recalls that 31 years ago, when he was 12, the time he spent at the Spalding Clubhouse helped steer him from negative elements.

Often, we don't realize the influence we have on the lives of others and how mentoring and love can transform youngsters. The Boys & Girls Club mission is to inspire young people to become responsible citizens.

Morck clearly took hold of that inspiration, as have many other alumnus of Boys & Girls Club and other organization members who mentor our youth.

That's a legacy that all who volunteer to help others should be proud of.