Trailblazers, Toyota Renovate Jefferson High Community Room

Trail Blazers Travis Outlaw and Brandon Roy visited Jefferson High School Monday to help kick off the grand opening ceremony of the newly renovated Community Room.

Long considered to be in disrepair, the Community Room is open to students, faculty and community groups as a study and meeting area. It is now outfitted with several computers, new furniture and lighting and other amenities.

"It seems like every time I turn around, we're in Jefferson and that's a good thing," Trail Blazers President Larry Miller told students. "Last year a group of Jeff students shared some incites and asked questions about my job, they felt like they didn't have a room or place here where the students could go and study and reflect on things."

The project was financed through the NBA Cares program and Toyota Project Rebound, one of 15 projects across the country. Last year, this same program helped to fund two reading and learning centers at Albina Head Start. The Blazers also helped refurbish the Jefferson gymnasium last year.

"It's got that new car smell, it's one of those rooms that got transformed," Ricky Allen said. "It's an educational opportunity for you to do research. The best way we can show appreciation is to sustain this room."

Allen, along with teacher Karanja Cruz, helped students voice their concerns about the decay of the facility, which lead to the renovation.