Even though the NBA is still on lockout, it's foundation and many other players foundation are still at work. As much as the lockout has lead to a lot of trouble, we still have to look at the bright side of everything. Now with players less busy, a lot of them have put more time and effort in expanding their foundations.
The NBA cares community Caravan is a year-long community and fan engagement program that help many less fortunate families reach more than 10,000 schools and community-based organization that touch the lives of more than 17 million families each year ( NBA cares) In fact players such as Kobe Bryant, Jason kidd, Dwight Howard and much more, have recently reached out with the Red cross to help organise summer youth athletic camps, and were able to help keep kids out of trouble but also teach them great discipline for the future basketball players.
Many players have contributed largely in their communities, for instant Orland Magic forward, Vince Carter has contributed over $1.6 million to the Vince Carter Sanctuary, which is a 100+ bed addiction treatment center founded in Bunnel, Florida, just a few miles of his hometown in Daytona beach. Another well respected player, Caron Butler known for his hard work inside and outside the courts, Caron Butler also known as the top “good guys” in sports since 2006. Butler hosts Summer Explosion each year for youths. This event hosts a day of service, a charity basketball game, a free basketball clinic (where many other players participate to help the kids) and his annual bike brigade. For a lot of these foundations, they do not do it for publicity or to look good. Their goal is to assist non profit community organizations based on needs. They focus on the use of sports to promote education, teamwork and self esteem. And it’s well obvious that kids in the community are developing great self esteem that let out their true talents.
For most of us at first, did not consider how the lockout could benefit the community, and I can’t lie I was one of them.. (ok ok.. shame on me) but we can’t be blamed for that, after all we’re just fans right? Besides a little break from this this lock out has definitely improved relationships with player as that one quote goes “ Absence makes the heart grow fonder” I know that from watching Lebron James and his opposition Kevin Durant, during the summer charity events where many players played on the same team to raise money for the sick kids foundation. I personally think that watching them play in these exhibition games has served a great teaser trailer for the season, when everything is settled with both sides. Although we don’t know when the lockout will end, but these charity events give us a glimpse of what it will be like when the game is back on.
I think it is great that the NBA does this. I think it shows that they are not just in it for the money of the sport but also to give back to their foundation. These players make a lot of money and it's nice to see them donate some to charities and such.
ReplyDeleteI agree with frankie here, I feel like as the lockout loomed over the nba, fans only really emphasized and brought out the bad aspects, like how these players are getting paid enough already and they're greedy and so on. No one really seems too appreciate the good or even bring it up, as much as the bad in every situation in life!
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