“Shoot” For The Stars, Basketball Gives Back

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Children from four Urban Renewal centers were in for a treat today as the University of Kentucky’s mens basketball team, the Kentucky Wildcats, collaborated with Samaritan’s Feet to bring them a mini basketball camp and shoe giveaway at Baha Mar this morning.

The University of Kentucky basketball team is in The Bahamas for the Players First Bahamas Basketball Camp, but today, they’ve teamed up with Samaritan’s Feet to give back to kids in the Bahamian community.

Kentucky Wildcats’ men’s coach, John Calipari, says these initiatives are part of an effort to create players who are “servant leaders” in the community.

Founder and CEO of Samaritan’s Feet, Emmanuel Ohonme, was born in Nigeria and at the age of 9 was the first person in his community to own a pair of shoes after winning them in a shootout contest. Ohonme says that life-changing event later inspired him to start his own organization.

When not coaching the kids in the mini-camp, the Kentucky Wildcats basketball players are at the shoe drive station, washing and sizing the feet of Bahamian little ones for their new shoes.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Mario Bowleg, says this event not only allows inner city children to meet future sports stars, but also helps the up and coming athletes to stay grounded.

The minister says events like this one help the greater economy through the tourism wave basketball teams can draw in. Bowleg tells us the Kentucky Wildcats men’s team alone brought in over 1200 fans to The Bahamas this week.

Youth, Sports, & Culture Project Coordinator, Pastor Henry Higgins, says there are over 250 children from four Urban Renewal centers set to receive shoes.