Making a Difference, One Community at a Time

This week’s post will feature one of Iowa's very own, Kyle Korver, who is originally from California, but grew up in Pella, Iowa. Kyle has done small-town Iowa proud with his basketball successes both in college and the NBA. Outside of basketball, Kyle is very active in his community, wherever he happens to call home during the NBA season. He has made a difference and I wanted to highlight some of the things he has done that have inspired me.

Kyle is the founder of Seer Outfitters, which is a clothing brand that donates 100% of the profits earned to help provide those who are wheelchair bound with a ramp and make their homes wheelchair friendly. Seer Outfitters has a blog that highlights their community involvement across the country. Kyle also has a ministry and wants to help people realize the beauty of God. Furthermore, He has also created the Kyle Korver Foundation, which was founded in 2006, when Kyle first started his NBA career with the Philadelphia 76’ers. The Foundation has hosted several coat drives throughout his career, in addition to helping throughout the community. Education is a very important area for Kyle and he has provided encouragement to area students to excel in their schoolwork and maintain good attendance. While playing with the Chicago Bulls, he partnered with the Chicago Housing Authority to implement a program for kids that would stress the importance of education. Kyle has even taken his community involvement across the country borders, sharing the love of God and his volunteering his time, for example in India during the summer of 2008. The involvement that Kyle, as well as the other NBA players I have featured, have had in their communities, have been an inspiration to me. 

In the future, I would like to start my own foundation and give back to the community I live in such a way. I myself would like to someday create my own foundation and give back to my communities, both in Minneapolis, and in a city where I hope to play in the NBA. . I would like to hold food, coat, and clothing drives at least once a month, providing the less fortunate with resources they need the most at the right time.  In addition, I would like to help children succeed in the schools by providing them with the assistance and resources they need. By providing them with the support and resources they need, we can ensure that they are able to achieve their dreams. I want them exceed expectations and surpass the statistics that say they may not leave their neighborhoods. I don’t want them to grow up thinking they can’t do anything and can’t achieve their full potentials. My idea would be to provide a resource center or community center where kids can come after school lets out to complete homework and receive help. It will also give them a safe place to hang out until their parents are done with work, instead of causing trouble or being on the streets. I think by having this available, the students would be able to avoid becoming involved in drugs, gangs, and crime by providing them with mentors, support and encouragement that they are worth more than they think, and an education. My center would have tutors available for the students to receive help on their homework if needed and it would give them a positive influence. When a person has a positive role model or influence, their perspective may change tremendously because they are receiving support and attention that they may not get at home. This center would also serve healthy food and provide some sort of fitness or activity to ensure that the children have plenty to eat and are getting their daily exercise in order to reduce the obesity rate. I encourage you to dream big and get involved in your community, big or small. It could volunteering your time as a mentor at a local school, donating cans or working a food bank, or sharing your talent. What have you done in your community? Get involved because you will realize the big difference that one person can make on their community, simply by volunteering. 

Thank you for reading this week’s post. For more information about Kyle Korver and the Kyle Korver Foundation, click here. To read more about my community involvement be sure to click here.

Adopt a Panther

In the fall of my sophomore year, I participated in a program we have at UNI called Adopt a Panther. It is a program in which I, and my teammates from the UNI Men’s basketball team, participate.  In this program, we get to visit elementary schools and speak to the kids about a few topics that are important to the basketball team, as well as topics or rules that our coaches constantly discuss with us and expect us to abide by. Usually, we have one of the assistant coaches and two teammates go to the school to speak. 

First, we start by introducing ourselves as well as share a little bit of background about ourselves before we begin the presentation. After introductions, our coach will give us about three topics to discuss and we have to apply it to an off-the-court example and how the subject ties back to basketball. With my teammate and I explaining our own stories, the kids get a different perspective from both of us on how we have managed to overcome obstacles placed before us and make sacrifices that helped us to get where we are today. 

Next, we end our presentation with answering questions from the audience and we then compete in a little game of one-on-one. My coach will select the child who has their hand up first to play against us. The name of the game is the ‘First to Score Wins’. The winner gets the privilege of putting shaving cream all over the face (and usually the hair too) of the loser.  The kids always have fun doing it to a basketball player, who is someone they look up to and maybe aspire to be. After our presentation, our audience, whether it is a single class, one grade or the entire school, will receive a free ticket to one of our games to see us in action.  We are considered the children’s ‘Panther’ that they are adopting.  So whenever they come to the game they can see us in person as well as talk to us after or get a picture or autograph if they like.

Pictured below is one of my coaches and former teammate.

Coach Crawford, Anthony James, and Myself (pictured from left to right)

The purpose of this program is to help continue to motivate the kids to either strive to be where we are currently or even to surpass us in being successful. Meaning never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. This statement is rings true in my life everyday - many people have told me I wouldn't be where I am today, but throughout my life I've had the blessing of continuously having the correct guidance and leadership to motivate me to be the best I can be every day and to pursue my dreams and goals. No matter what other people say, you can do what you want to. There will always be people who are going to have negative criticism, but you have to learn how to use that criticism as motivation and prove them wrong. Once you become successful you can later thank the people who were always there for you, but even more to those who said you would never make it.

I think the kids learn valuable lessons that they can use in an every-day situation they might come across. Also, I feel great knowing I was able to make a kids day by giving them examples of life lessons as well as have some fun with them by playing a little one on one at the end of our visit to finish round out our community involvement.

If I had this program when I was younger I think it would have helped draw more people to my hometown university, as well as give them a larger following. I might have gotten a mentor or “big brother” from something like this as I got older and continue to keep in contact with the players that came to my school. To read more on how to get involved in your community click here.

Do You Remember?

            While growing up, I followed Kevin Durant’s basketball career starting when he was playing at the University of Texas. I didn’t know how involved he was in his community until I starting reading about him and following his social media sites. I think Kevin is a compassionate family man, who puts the needs of others over his own. This is one of the main characteristics I admire about him and I hope to follow in his footsteps to make a difference.

Do you remember the tragic tornado that ripped through Oklahoma City? You may have forgotten, but Kevin Durant made sure his fans, the people of Oklahoma City and the entire state, knew he didn’t forget. He was sure to make his presence known both through volunteering his time with relief efforts and through monetary donations. While reading an article about Kevin Durant, I found out that he has donated over $1 million dollars to American Red Cross through his family’s foundation, The Kevin Durant Family Foundation, which is known to support programs such as after-school, summer, educational, and those for single-parents. Kevin showed his support through Twitter saying "Praying for the victims of the Tornadoes in OKC these last few days. Everybody stay safe!" Kevin also went out into the community and spoke to tornado victims to help keep their minds of what had just happened. He wanted to make sure that the people knew how much he cared for the community physically rather than just monetarily

Click here to see Kevin in action

              

          Durant said, “It’s an honor to play in the NBA, and I hope that I can use some of the attention given to me because of my work on the court to raise awareness and resources for the things that I know personally can make a difference in the lives of kids.”

          Kevin’s quote is definitely accurate as involvement in the community doesn’t stop in Oklahoma. He has used his reputation in the NBA to help other organizations. Kevin knows what it is like to grow up in the inner city and so now he is using his experience to help others in similar situations. His most recent project has been to partner with KIND Healthy Snacks (KIND) to launch a STRONG & KIND campaign that will help redefine what strength and kindness mean in our society.

If you’re interested in donating or reading more about Kevin’s continued efforts in the community, visit his personal website.

By helping out in your community, you may experience what is called a “Helper’s High”. This feeling will make you feel excited about volunteering in the near future. When I volunteer, I felt a sense of contentment knowing that I made in the outcome of someone else’s day. I feel blessed to know that I may have motivated someone to continue to conquer their challenges and reach for the stars. I want to become a role model for someone and it is easy to take time out of your busy schedule, even if it is just for an hour. To you this one hour may seem like passing time, but someone else, that would be the best hour of their day. In the community of Cedar Falls, my hometown of Minneapolis, and my future communities, I don’t want to just be known for my athletic ability. I want to be known for my contributions and positive influence in the community through volunteering.

   

Never Take Anything for Granted

This past summer I had the opportunity to play Adapted Basketball with those who aren't as fortunate as I am and are paraplegics or are suffering from medical conditions and disorders that don’t allow them to use their legs. You may not believe it, but Cedar Valley has an Adapted Basketball team that competes locally and has participated in the Special Olympics and other individuals, who only play recreationally. I had the opportunity to play with one of the teams this summer while I was taking summer classes and participating in team workouts. This was my second time playing, as I played a few years ago.

            My first time, it was very difficult to stay in the wheelchair and learn how to be an effective player using what I already knew. I thought it was hard to be in a wheelchair and play basketball. It allowed me to see what it is like in their shoes and learn what they go through every day. I have never been in a wheelchair before.

                      

 Doing this was an eye opener for me and put a lot of smiles on their faces. Here is a quote that I enjoy: “Let your smile change the world, don’t let the world change your smile”- Author Unknown.

             For me personally playing adopted basketball in a wheelchair isn’t easy at all. I still thought it was difficult even though I have played before. I had to try and find a wheel chair that was big enough for me and allowed my legs to sit comfortably. Almost everyone that I played with had a custom fit wheel chair specifically made to play basketball. Many athletes think sports other than their own are easy, until they actually play and realize what it takes to be good and competitive at the sport they are trying out. I never considered Adopted Basketball to be an easy sport. I admire them and it makes me realize how much I am blessed every day to have all my limbs and the capability to use them, because one day they could just be gone or taken away. So I thank GOD every day for blessing me to have everything I have and the ability to play this game I LOVE called basketball.

Below are some rules and explanation of how I was told the game goes.

            First, you have to be able to move fast in your wheelchair and change speeds just as you would in regular basketball, but you can’t use your legs so it’s totally different. Second, you can only dribble twice and or roll your wheels twice before both shooting and passing. This ensures that everyone gets participates in the game, as it’s more of a team effort. Next, no matter how big or small you are, you can be flipped out of your chair. It is advised that you wear your seatbelt so if this does happen, there won’t be as many injuries. Finally, just have fun and compete just as you would in regular basketball because they play to win and compete hard every single play. The same is true for them as it is for me when I play out on the court.

            I enjoyed my time playing with these individuals and I would definitely do it again. Although they can’t play basketball the same way I do and despite our differences, we share a commonality: Love and passion for the game!

            Without the A.C.E.S. program I may have gone into a different direction. I have learned not to take things for granted and live each day to the fullest. To read more about this click here.