James Pressley and Jason Smart-El were hoping to empower 100 local adolescent boys from single-parent homes.
But their "Save Our Boys" event got so much support, they are hoping even more boys will be heading to Young's Skating Center in Hamilton Township on Tuesday evening.
The night out is aimed at boys ages 7 to 15 from single-parent homes.
Buses will take the boys to the skating center, where they will get food, two hours of skating and skate rental. There will also be a message from Brandon Bell, an Oakcrest graduate who made his NFL debut last season as a Cincinnati Bengal.
"We are grateful that the community has rallied behind our vision to help make it a reality," Pressley said.
One bus will leave from the Atlantic City Boys and Girls Club on Pennsylvania Avenue. Another will leave from the corner of Chestnut and Edgewater avenues in Pleasantville. They are still looking to fill the Pleasantville bus.
Both will leave at 5:15 p.m. and will return at 8:30 p.m.
The community support has been overwhelming, Pressley said.
The pair of friends from Pleasantville have been looking for ways to help the community.
This time, they are focusing on young males, who often need the extra attention.
There are limited spots available for boys from other towns in Atlantic County, but they will need to get a ride. All participants must register and parents must sign a permission slip.
Anyone who still wants to help or have their son involved can email Pressley at
jamespressley@live.com or Smart-El at
uniquelyrareclothing@gmail.com. They can also be messaged through their Facebook pages:
Jason Smart-El or
James Pressley.
Atlantic City and Pleasantville are often presented as the worst Atlantic County has to offer. Shootings, robberies and videoed fights turned entertainment often take the headlines. Or at least, are the headlines of the stories people read and remember. But there are people out there fighting the
