In Denver to begin preparing for his rookie season, Nuggets guard Gary Harris also got a head start on connecting with the community.
Harris flashed his ball-handling skills for a young fan as he and teammates Erick Green and Jerrelle Benimon helped collect sports gear during the third annual giveSPORTS Equipment Drive.
More than 25,000 pieces of equipment and $5,000 in cash donations were collected Saturday at Pepsi Center. The event was inspired by former Altitude Sports & Entertainment intern Jessica Redfield Ghawi, who was killed in the Aurora theater shooting on July 20, 2012.
Kroenke Sports Charities, through a donation from Teammates for Kids, matched the $5,000, providing $10,000 to A Precious Child, a non-profit organization that works with more than 150 Denver-area community groups. The money will help provide financial assistance for sports-related registration fees.
“The generosity of our fans and neighbors continues to amaze us,” said Deb Dowling, vice president for community relations and fan development for Kroenke Sports Enterprises.
In addition to Harris, Green and Benimon, Nuggets coach Brian Shaw was on hand to help unload vehicles and lift the sports equipment into large moving trucks.
In past years, forwards Kenneth Faried, Quincy Miller and J.J. Hickson and general manager Tim Connelly have attended the event. Point guard Ty Lawson also donated $2,000 in gift cards to A Precious Child in 2013.
View photos of the event here.