The University at Buffalo Division of Athletics will donate more than $30,000 worth of athletic equipment to three local community centers at an event to be held at 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24, at the Ed Saunders Center, 2777 Bailey Ave.

The three Community Action Organization community centers that will receive the equipment are the Edward Saunders Center on Bailey Avenue, the JFK Community Center on Hickory Street and the Pratt Community Center on Pratt Street.

The donated fitness equipment includes 10 area circuit machines, including leg curl, four-way neck, fly, leg press (plate loaded), hip flexor, arm curl, tricep extension, leg extension, torso rotation, back extension and 2.5-, 5-, 10-, 25- and 45-pound weightlifting plates.

The gently-used equipment is being donated because the UB Division of Athletics recently acquired new equipment. It will be utilized in the Community Action Organization's community centers for various programs, including the Sports Plus program for youth in the neighborhoods surrounding the three community centers. Sports Plus teaches youth not only how to play sports, but good sportsmanship skills.

"We are very happy to support the health and wellness activities of people in Western New York by contributing to these local community centers," said Warde Manuel, UB director of athletics. "With the addition of brand new equipment in our Alumni Arena fitness center, we had a unique opportunity to provide functional fitness equipment to those who could make use of it. I'd like to thank Marcus Hutchins, our director of recreation and intramurals, for taking the lead on this project."

Media arrangements: Jessica Wangelin in the Office of Community Relations, at 829-6145, and Linwood Roberts, neighborhood outreach coordinator, Office of Community Relations, onsite.

The University at Buffalo continues to strengthen and sustain its impact as a public institution serving diverse communities locally and abroad by building stronger community partnerships that enrich and enhance UB's teaching and research mission. Through programming and these partnerships, the Office of Community Relations works to cultivate a culture of community awareness and engagement in our students, faculty, and staff, and to be a good neighbor to the communities adjacent to and beyond UB's campuses.