Years and years from now, kids getting buckets in the gym at Brooklyn’s Taylor-Wythe Community Center will be able to say they that they’ve played ball on the same exact floor as guys like Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and Stephen Curry. Yesterday afternoon we were at the community center for a great event put on by Nike and the city of New York to unveil a brand new basketball court – the same exact floor used at Radio City Music Hall at this past summer’s World Basketball Festival.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Amar’e Stoudemire were both there for the unveiling as part of the Cornerstone initiative and Nike’s partnership with the city’s Department of Youth and Community Development to grow access to the sport of basketball at 25 New York City community centers.
The Swoosh has made a two-year commitment to the Cornerstone program with investments for court refurbishments, coach placement at the centers, and donations of sports equipment and product to each site. The program will be launching a middle school boys league where kids will develop not only as players but also as leaders in their neighborhoods through community service projects.
All in all, it’s an incredible program. And yesterday’s event was a fitting kickoff – the day featured the appearances from the Mayor and STAT, a live band and a basketball skills clinic put on by Dime’s nonprofit organization, Chainlink Fundamentals for neighborhood kids.
