Even though he hasn’t played a game for Brooklyn yet because of an injury, the borough’s most famous athlete is already getting into the holiday spirit.
Kevin Durant, an all-star for the Brooklyn Nets, stopped by the Coalition for the Homeless (CFTH) in Manhattan on December 20 to provide presents for 40 kids from homeless families. Of those, 32 were from CFTH’s Bound for Success program in Brooklyn.
The Kevin Durant Charity Foundation (KDCF) hosts events like this one to support their goal of providing low-income youngsters with access to quality education, athletic opportunities, and social services.
The parent organization of KDCF, Thirty Five Ventures, has given out more than $450,000 in grants to combat juvenile homelessness since 2015, as stated on Durant’s website.
While playing for the Brooklyn Nets in his rookie season, the two-time NBA champion and former MVP had an effect on the neighborhood.
The fact that Durant is now a part of the neighborhood makes him want to “absolutely just inject what we do into the community,” he added. “I wanted to make sure we assisted as much as possible.”
Toys like LEGOs, Peppa Pig’s Magna Doodle board, and dozens of other goodies were waiting for the kids in the big red bags.
Eight of the forty-plus children belonged to two families profiled in a recent NYT article that illuminated the daily struggles of homeless families in the Big Apple, according to the Nets.
Durant approached the excited mob of kids one by one, mingling with them and taking pictures with each one.
He wished the children a nice holiday season. I’m happy that we can brighten your day a little bit. I appreciate you allowing me to be here.
Students in Brooklyn have access to after-school and summer programs that include sports, recreation, and one-on-one tutoring through the Bound for Success Program. A grant will be provided to CFTH to fund the initiative by Durant’s group.
According to Dave Giffen, executive director for CFTH, “it gives them an opportunity to come and just have fun and get some toys, meet Kevin Durant and see that they’re appreciated.” This event provides a welcome escape from the unpleasant realities of homelessness.
According to Giffen, one of the biggest struggles for his group is making people realize how big of a problem homelessness is. Of the 60,000 persons residing in the city’s shelters, 22,000 are children, with half of that number being younger than six years old.
“This is a huge boon for the kids, having someone as influential as Kevin Durant come here and not only give them a fantastic day, but also help spread the word,” Giffen remarked.
Durant and the organization sent gifts to the Geary House, a San Francisco facility for young people run by Larkin Street Youth Services, and the Elizabeth House, an Oakland facility for families, last year while Durant was playing for the Golden State Warriors.
