Warriors Donate Shoes to Project Shoe Assist
The Warriors Donate Shoes to help the underprivileged children of Bolar Basketball School in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
When Dr. James Naismith invented the game of basketball in 1891, he certainly did not benefit from any of the advanced equipment and necessities that currently exist in today’s game.
Breakaway rims? No.
Fiberglass backboards? Nope.
Soft nets? Not exactly.
$100 pair of basketball shoes? Never.
Fortunately, we’ve come a long way from the days of the peach basket without a hole. Nonetheless, while it is usually not too difficult to locate a decent playing surface and basket in most cities across the world, providing the right individual equipment – such as those shoes – is sometimes a chore. As a result, the Warriors joined forces with a special program earlier today, PROJECT SHOE ASSIST, which provides tennis shoes to underprivileged children in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Assistant Coach Terry Stotts, who will enter his second season with the Warriors next year, delivered nearly 100 pairs of basketball shoes to this special cause on Thursday in downtown Oakland.
Stotts presented the shoes to Tony Freccero, founder of PROJECT SHOE ASSIST, who will deliver the shoes to help the underprivileged children of Bolar Basketball School in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Many of the shoes donated by the Warriors and Stotts were worn previously by some of the current Golden State players and ranged in size from big (13) to bigger (18).
“The Warriors are really excited to take part in this endeavor,” said Stotts. “Hopefully this will allow some people who would ordinarily not have a chance to play the game of basketball in the comfort that we sometimes take for granted, to do so.”
Freccero, has been helping the children of Bolar for the last three years, assisting several student-athletes in landing basketball scholarships here in the United States. PROJECT SHOE ASSIST will try to help the Bolar students achieve their dreams. Freccero is asking for donations of athletic shoes in all sizes-basketball, running, cross trainers, etc.-that are in a wearable condition.