If there is anything I admire and have the up-most respect for is community service. On Wednesday, January 29th the Brooklyn Nets along with forward Andray Blatche visited the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club in Brooklyn to promote a heart and health awareness event that I had the opportunity to attend and cover. The Boys and Girls club is a nationally recognized organization dedicated to enabling young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The Madison branch was founded in 1884 and provided after school and summer activities for children in New York’s most disadvantaged communities. With these activities the club attempts to embark on three principles which include Academic Success, Good Character and Citizenship , and adoption of a Healthy lifestyle. The club partnered with the Brooklyn Nets Assist program in a joint effort to provide an experience worth remembering as Nets forward Andray Blatche attended. Similar to the Boys and Girls club the Nets Assist program was created to support four significant pillars which are education, athletics, health and awareness, and community development. They also have other organizations affiliated that sponsor and support the movement of youth development.
When I initially entered the building I could tell their was an anticipation and excitement from the kids as they were running wildly with joy. Being involved in the Boys and Girls club as a child myself I related to the kids having a place to attend after school that provided a positive atmosphere. The kids were separated by age group and they anxiously waited for the workshop to begin. The intentions of the event was to promote health so they were required to complete stations such as blood pressure, height and weight. As they completed these stations the biggest treat was the chance to meet and play some hoops with an NBA player and receive autographs. Blatche who stated he grew up in the Boys and Girls club was very involved with the kids as he interacted, joked and laughed with them. The overall event was a success and their was a great vibe from the kids, faculty and staff.
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