The South Side pastor aimed to raise $450,000 by March 31 to purchase the shuttered Super Motel, 6625 S. King Dr., across the street from his congregation. He set up digs on the rooftop and vowed to not come down until it happened.
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The South Side pastor aimed to raise $450,000 by March 31 to purchase the shuttered Super Motel, 6625 S. King Dr., across the street from his congregation. He set up digs on the rooftop and vowed to not come down until it happened.
Revered filmmaker-playwright Tyler Perry made his wish come true just a little more than one month before Pastor Corey Brooks’, of New Beginnings Church in the 6600 block of South King Drive, deadline.
The same day Perry’s new movie “Good Deeds” was released, Friday, he announced on the Tom Joyner Morning Show he’d give Brooks the remaining funds, $98,000, needed to demolish the motel and get a community center to replace what had become and eyesore in the neighborhood.
The community center will feature mixed-income housing, commercial spaces for small and larger businesses to ignite job creation, and areas for social services including expansion of New Beginnings Church’s “Master’s Academy.”
Perry had a contest for the Harley Davidson used in the film to be donated to a church who was known for its good deeds. Someone wrote a nomination letter about Brooks and his rooftop vigil that became at the onset of the winter season.
The letter was read while Perry was on Joyner’s show.
Perry, after confirmation from Joyner and show co-host Sybil Wilkes that Brooks’ rooftop vigil to heighten awareness to violence was legit, said he’d give the pastor the $98,000 he needed. He later upped the amount to $100,000.
On the air Perry said, “Well tell him to come on down.” Brooks had been camped up there for 94 days.
Calls to Brooks poured in after they heard Perry pledged the money. He called in to the show and professed his gratitude to the filmmaker.
But, the good deeds weren’t over. The pastor also received an additional $85,000 from an anonymous donor to kick off the second phase of fundraising to get the multi-million community center built.
Copyright 2012 Chicago Defender
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