June Community

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In the fall 2015, Justin Balvin, the Academic Dean of the Excel Academy for Higher Learning, had an idea.

His school was designated as a school that "beat the odds" by the Star Tribune. The distinction was given to 10 schools with more than 85 percent of students receiving a free or reduced prized lunch with the highest percentage of students in or above their grade level.

Balvin wanted to do something to honor his students’ academic achievements while also raising money for the school. As a former basketball player, he thought, why not do something on the court?

He decided he would try to shoot a perfect game of Around The World and called it the #BeatingTheOddsChallenge.

Balvin was hoping to make 13 shots in a row – including a half-court shot. Seems pretty unlikely, right?

Well, unlikely, maybe. But not impossible.

He did more #BeatingTheOddsChallenge events and in front of students, continued to shoot very well – even with a tie still on. Local and national media picked up on the Challenge and eventually, Balvin decided he’d reach out to NBA and WNBA players about attempting the Challenge and/or donating to the school.

After the first video was released, a local star who Minnesotans know plenty about reached out to Balvin about how he could help.

He’s a first-round NBA draftpick. He’s a national champion and played for Duke. He was coveted by every college after four spectacular years at Apple Valley. And he plays for the Wolves?

“He wanted to tour the school and learn more about us without the kids knowing that he was here, I was really impressed by that,” Balvin said. “He genuinely wanted to learn more about our school and our kids and that's what it's all about.”

After Jones toured the school, he asked if he could come back and take the Challenge during a live assembly so the kids could be there for it as well.

The students were unaware that Jones would be making an appearance. The school gave “golden tickets” to the 3rd-8th grade students, but they weren’t quite sure what it was for.

“The kids were shocked when they saw him walk into our gym,” Balvin said.

Before taking part in the Challenge, Jones shared his own story of overcoming obstacles to make it all the way to the NBA as a first-round draft pick. For a school encouraging that its students could beat the odds, Jones gave a similar message of “write your own story.” It is a motto that he has developed throughout his career on and off the court.

“He talked about doing whatever it takes to pave your own way and not let anything stand in the way of reaching your dreams,” Balvin said.

He was a natural fit to talk to the students because they were able to relate to Jones being his age (20) and his status in the Minneapolis community.

Jones spoke with the students, relaying his “Write Your Own Story” message to them. He also took part in the Challenge and put on a shooting clinic.

“Tyus was incredibly open and friendly with everyone he met here and really left a big impression on our school,” Balvin said. “Additionally, Tyus didn't want any media coverage of the event because he wanted the kids to know that he was doing this for them and not for his own personal gains.”

The ball Jones used for the Challenge is still in Balvin’s office and he has students that will stop in to check it out.

Jones has done a lot for the Minneapolis community as far as basketball is concerned. But he was able to combine his love for basketball and his love for community together with this event, and truly wanted to make it all about the children and their future.

"I was so inspired the other day by my time with the kids over at Excel Academy.  In my journey with both school and basketball, I have discovered that learning and education are such keys to life,” Jones said. “Life is really about pursuing excellence in all things, and that is certainly what is going on over Excel Academy.  I was honored to get to see that and I wish everyone there continued success in Beating The Odds, and continuing to Write Your Own Story.”

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Tyus Jones | Write Your Own Story

On Saturday, less than 48 hours after being drafted No. 5 overall to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kris Dunn was already making his mark in the Minneapolis community.

Dunn and the Minnesota Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation teamed up with Urban Strategies. Urban Strategies is a national nonprofit whose mission is to empower residents in distressed urban core neighborhoods to lead healthy, prosperous lives in thriving and self-sustaining communities.

It was fitting that Dunn chose this organization considering his background and how much he’s already had to overcome in his life.

The former Providence point guard worked alongside 15 youth to help bake vegetable desserts as part of Urban Strategies’ Green Garden Bakery Program. The program teaches youth about gardening, environmentalist, business and entrepreneurship.

You can read more about Urban Strategies and its mission here.

Here are some of the top social media posts from the event:

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Dunn's Already Giving Back To The Community

On Thursday, June 9, the FastBreak Foundation partnered with Great River Greening to launch the "Threes For Trees" initiative.

Well, it’s pretty straight-forward. The Foundation planted a tree for every 3-point shot made by the Timberwolves during home games during the month of April.

Fun facts: The team made 13 in the final game of the season against the New Orleans Pelicans, so that helped. In three homes games during the month, Zach LaVine made eight 3-pointers, Nemanja Bjelica made three, Karl-Anthony Towns, Gorgui Dieng, Andrew Wiggins, Ricky Rubio and Shabazz Muhammad made two each, while Tyus Jones pitched in with one.

As part of the NBA’s Commitment to Service program, a team of volunteers made up of military personnel and their families, as well as Wolves and Lynx employees (including President Chris Wright and RFO Ryan Tanke) worked to plant 22 trees at the South Washington Conservation Corridor in Woodbury. That group worked side-by-side with Great River Greening, a community-based organization that leads restoration of prairies, forests and waters.

Follow the day below with tweets, because you know, it’s 2016 and that’s what people do. 

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FastBreak Foundation Plants 22 Trees As Part Of "Threes For Trees" Initiative

It was announced earlier this month that Wolves point guard and Minnesota native Tyus Jones is an official brand ambassador for the United Heroes League, previously known as Defending the Blue Line.

“My grandfather was a paratrooper in the Army, so I wanted to do something that involved the military but at the same time, could help in the sports aspect as well,” Jones said at a press conference. “So that was really the main reason for me. It effected both of those two great things.”

Jones joins athletes such as Zach Parise and Trevor Ploufe to join the cause. The Apple Valley native is also the first NBA player to join the United Heroes League.

The program has provided more than $3 million worth of sporting equipment, tickets, cash tickets and summer camps to military families across the United States and Canada. The program works to make sure children of military families are afforded every opportunity to participate in athletics.

Defending the Blue Line was a recipient of a grant last season from the Minnesota Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation to start up the basketball wing of the program.

Below is the press conference of Jones’ introduction as an ambassador for the United Heroes League.

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Jones Introduced As Ambassador For United Heroes League

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