On Saturday, October 25, 2008, the Courts of Dreams Foundation hosted its First Annual Family Day from 2 to 4PM at the Sports Club/LA in New York. Youth between the ages of 5 to18 were provided an opportunity to play and learn from the pros during a 45 minute basketball clinic, followed by Q&A, photos and raffles.
Former Knicks player and current General Manager of the NJ Nets Kiki Vandeweghe along with NY Knicks Head Coach Mike D'Antoni and Knicks President Donnie Walsh headlined the event along with former Knicks player John Starks and Yi Jianlian and Jarvis Hayes of the NJ Nets.
The mission of the Courts of Dreams Foundation is to restore and maintain outdoor basketball courts for children in NYC neighborhoods and around the world fostering healthy, safe, communities while promoting the values of basketball such as team work, mutual respect and leadership. "We established the Courts of Dreams Foundation as a way to give back to our community and hopefully improve the lives of children in our hometown," said Natasha Cornstein, chairperson for the foundation. "The game of basketball is an amazing vehicle for children to get out and exercise and, while playing, explore the values of teamwork and leadership that are at the core of the sport."
Special thanks to Kenneth Podziba, Commissioner of New York City Sports Commission/ NY & Company and his staff for extending an invitation to Athletes for Charity and allowing 16 students from the High School of Sports Management and the High School For Law Enforcement And Public Safety to experience such a wonderful event.
