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Houston, TX (KTRK) — In just a few weeks, Houston will become the center of college basketball and the NCAA Final Four will be in town.

And while a lot of money was spent that weekend, the NCAA also made a big donation to Houston’s community center.

The historic Blue Triangle Center has played an important role in District 3 for decades.

The building was heavily damaged during Hurricane Harvey, but has been largely restored.

The NCAA is providing $100,000 for renovations to upgrade their basketball courts.

This is part of the league’s commitment to leave a legacy. The Blue Triangle was one of his 17 nominees, and NCAA Final Four organizing committee member Rachel Quan said the choice was easy.

“Oh my god, you know, the history here is amazing,” she said.

Charlotte Bryant, executive director of the center, said that’s what she prayed for.

“I promise you this is nothing but God’s blessing. I am so grateful that they chose us out of 17 people. I am very happy,” Bryant said.

The Blue Triangle was founded in 1919 and has moved to different locations over the years. He then became part of his YWCA in Houston in segregation. Y paid for black members to meet separately from white members. Until a group of women decided to purchase their property.

“In 1948, the year I graduated from high school, ten women who looked like you and me bought this property for $1,000. $1,000 was a lot of money back then,” Bryant said. .

Bryant was only 12 years old when he joined the Blue Triangle, along with many other Third Ward families, when it was still a chapter of the YWCA. But in the 1990s, when she decided to close the building and sell it, she said,

She was part of a group that tried to raise money to buy it before they realized they had a secret weapon. The central mural I painted in one of the is now worth $1.3 million. So Y made a surprising decision.

Their lawyer advised them to transfer the building.

“So you got the place for $1,” Bryant said.

But getting a building and struggling to pay for it are two different things, and Bryant has worked hard to keep the center up for about 23 years.

Then Hurricane Harvey made landfall.

“Herbie’s four days of rain really devastated this place. I was overwhelmed and the first thing I started doing was praying again. What are we going to do? I’ve been working hard to put it back together,” Bryant said.

The Qatari government helped restore most of the building, including the indoor pool. The museum also helped restore damaged murals. However, the basketball court still needed work. And that’s when the NCAA chose the Blue Triangle for its Legacy Award.

“The community center has already done amazing things over the years and decades. .

Kuan describes what the Center will get as part of the renovation as “complete new floors, new backboards and new rims.”

Marie Arcos knows the difference this gift can make. Northside Her YMCA, which she has led for over a decade, received a similar gift in 2011.

“This has allowed us to double our membership, expand our programs and deeply impact the lives of children and families in that community,” she said.

The Sunnyside Community Boys and Girls Club called it a “game changer”. They closed the center for renovations.

“It was a big announcement to come back and the young people were in tears. They were surprised, the staff were surprised, the families were surprised because it really changed us all.” said Zena Campbell.

She believes she has “given new hope to the club and community.”

But back to the Blue Triangle. Looking at her, you wouldn’t realize that Bryant is 92 years old and still runs the center every day.

“She’s one of the nicest women we’ve ever met. She has a light about her,” Kuan said.

Bryant was quick to respond when asked if he thought he would stay here longer. , I wanted to be able to build things on top of what I started with. ”

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