DC Schools Benefit When NBA All-Star Scores -- and Score He Does
by Jim Brown
November 10, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A professional basketball player is scoring for schools in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The result is thousands of dollars in donations to area schools. Washington Wizards All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas is donating $100 for every points he scores in home games this year to a different Washington-area school. The money will help schools pay for computers, athletic uniforms, and equipment, and fund after-school programs. According to the Washington Wizards' website, team chairmen Abe and Irene Pollin will be doing the same for every Wizards road game. For every point Arenas scores in away games, the Pollins will give $100 to an area school.
That amounts to a lot of money, considering Arena averaged 29 points a game last year, and scored 44 points in the Wizards' first home game last weekend. The University of Arizona standout, now in his fifth year as a pro, followed that up with 24 points on the road against Orlando on Monday, then another 40 on Wednesday at home in a win against the Indiana Pacers.
AgapePress asked Arenas what inspired him to start the "Scores for Schools" program.
"Truly, our public schools are terrible right now," he responded. "Teachers [are] not getting paid enough; they don't want to teach the kids. It's been going on for a while." He shares that the opportunity to do something was presented to him.
"Somebody said this is what you should do, and I jumped on it quick, because they need help for funding, from athletics to after-school programs," the Wizards' guard continued, noting that he is hopeful the program will keep children in the classrooms and gymnasiums. "It'll keep kids from wandering the streets," he said. "Put a ball in your hands, keep a gun out of your hands -- that's my motto."
For the past three years, Arenas has hosted "Gilbert's Christmas Dream" program to benefit underprivileged DC-area children.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
