DeMarcus Cousins is a great asset to our community. As the all-star center for our Sacramento Kings, the work he’s doing in our city can’t be overlooked. Last week, DeMarcus held his annual summer camp at Sacramento High School for local kids.
It’s not unusual for NBA players to host youth camps during the long summer months, but this camp was unique – it was free to 200 underprivileged youth in the area. Saint John’s was fortunate to have five very deserving kids receive scholarships from DeMarcus to attend his camp this year.
Bigger than basketball
In some ways, it’s a miracle that we even made it to this point. With the ongoing drama that plagued the Kings franchise for years, it was uncertain if the team would even make it to the summer of 2015 in Sacramento.
Of course, we all know how it played out – in true Sacramento fashion, our community united around the city to save its team. The rallying cry of that multi-year saga was always that “it’s bigger than basketball”.
This is the latest example of how that proclamation has manifested itself in many ways since new ownership took over and the Kings settled into the city for good. For three days, five Saint John’s kids lived a dream they wouldn’t have otherwise had the opportunity to experience. For three days, five Saint John’s kids got to break their routine, spend some time away from the shelter, and hang out with an NBA superstar.
Opportunities like this mean more than just basketball and a free autograph, they’re crucial times for growth, development and self-confidence.
Saint John’s COO, Steve Backers, expanded on what exactly the experience meant “By participating in the DeMarcus Cousins Basketball camp, our kids not only received the physical gift of exercise, but also the emotional gifts of feeling that people cared about them, people payed attention to them and gave them the opportunity to play and have fun, all things we try to reinforce for them here at Saint John’s.”
For kids who already feel differently from their peers, this experience was absolutely bigger than basketball.
Sometimes all it takes is an opportunity
THANK YOU to DeMarcus Cousins for making such a profound impact in our community, and especially in the lives of the five kids who had the chance to attend his camp last week.
Sometimes all it takes is one hand up, one opportunity, one experience like this one to change someone’s whole world. “I’m so thankful that DeMarcus and his camp sponsors provided this opportunity to kids who otherwise would probably never would have been able to experience something like this,” said Backers.
Thank you also to the camp partners- Kamps4Kids, St. Hope, VSP, and to everyone involved for making it bigger than just basketball.
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