Plays for the Holidays

Andy Fahey

As part of the Plays for the  Holidays community outreach initiative, Golden State Warriors stars Andrew  Bogut and Stephen Curry hosted children with the Make-A-Wish® Foundation to  form special connections and unforgettable experiences on Warriors Ground.

“I feel it’s our  responsibility as athletes and role models in our community to take young  people under our wing and inspire them to make the best of their circumstances,”  said Bogut.

On December 3, 2014, Bogut  hosted 20-year-old Melbourne, Australia native Trent Frost and his family to  fulfill Trent’s wish of meeting him and attending an NBA basketball game for  the first time. Bogut and the Warriors made sure Trent’s visit was even more  unforgettable, surprising Trent with a one-day contract for December 4 when the  team played the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena.

“I’m so happy for Trent and  it makes me so proud as a mother to see his dreams come true,” said Trent’s  mother, Donna. “Leaving Australia for the first time, being in the States and having  a wonderful person like Andrew make his dreams come true has made us so  grateful.”

Frost and his family were  able to tour the Warriors locker room, spend one-on-one time with Bogut and  have his name introduced on the Warriors home court before tip-off, where he  danced alongside Bogut and the entire Warriors team.

“Being able to not only realize my dream of  sitting in an NBA arena to watch a game, but to actually participate with the  team and being out there during pregame was an indescribable experience,” said  Frost.

On January 9, 2015, Curry  hosted four young boys from around the country to fulfill their wishes of  meeting the Warriors sharpshooter. Cash, Damian, Aubrey and Kobe were able to  attend Curry’s exclusive Curry One signature shoe release event on January 8  and wear custom Curry One shoes as they shot around with him the next morning at  the Warriors Practice Facility in downtown Oakland.

“Hosting a great set of kids  with the Make-A-Wish® Foundation, trying to make their visit with the team a  fun one,” said Curry. “Once they got a ball in their hands they opened up, to  see the smiles on their faces was special for me.”

Curry gave the boys a  special VIP tour of the Warriors Practice Facility and surprised them with gift  bags filled with Under Armour gear, Express clothing and a Playstation Vita  gaming system.  The children and their  families were also able to sit courtside during pregame shootaround and watch their  idol score 23 points and dish out 10 assists in a 112-94 Warriors win over the  Cleveland Cavaliers.

“It’s amazing to see  Damien’s reaction to this whole experience,” said Damien’s father James. “He  can’t sleep, he doesn’t want to eat, he just wants to run around and play  basketball with the other kids.”

Warriors Wish Week was part  of the Warriors Plays for the Holidays community outreach initiative, as each  Warriors player and coach participated in at least one additional event this  holiday season to brighten the lives of local families and youth in the Bay Area.

“It’s pretty fun to meet one  of the best players in the NBA,” said ten-year-old Cash. “I got to hang with  Steph and show him what a good shooter I am.”

This event was also part of  the NBA Cares Season of Giving campaign, where the NBA and its teams and  players participated in hundreds of charitable events across the country in an  effort to brighten the holidays for thousands of children and families.

stephen-curry-andrew-bogut-host-make-a-wish-youth-for-warriors-wish-week

Stephen Curry, Andrew Bogut Host Make-A-Wish Youth For Warriors Wish Week

we-g-i-v-e-hashtag-lunchbag

WE G.I.V.E. – Hashtag Lunchbag

feed-the-children-with-stephen-and-ayesha-curry

Feed the Children with Stephen and Ayesha Curry

Golden State Warriors  stars Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes brightened the lives of Bay Area youth  on Friday, December 19 by each treating local Bay Area youth to shopping sprees  to fulfill their wish lists this holiday season.

Thompson, who received  the NBA’s Community Assist Award for the Month of November for his efforts to  give back to the community, continued his generous ways in December by  partnering with the Good Tidings Foundation to take a sixth-grade class from  Palo Alto’s Eastside Prep to Talbots Toyland in San Mateo to purchase toys for  each to enjoy and share with loved ones and friends.

“It’s great to be here to make the holiday  season special and exciting for these kids,” said Thompson.

While the kids danced through the aisles to  choose their new holiday presents, Thompson walked through each aisle of the  store to share the children’s’ excitement and help them choose fun new items  for themselves and others.

After the shopping spree, Thompson treated the  ecstatic group of boys and girls to a holiday meal, where the group could  reflect on their good fortune this holiday season and what they each look  forward to in the New Year.

"Seeing the smiles on their faces and  spending time with them are what Christmas and the holidays are about,"  said Thompson. "It feels great to give back."

Later that day, Warriors forward Harrison  Barnes treated 15 deserving Bay Area boys and girls in need this holiday season  to a shopping spree at the adidas Sport Performance Store in the Westfield San  Francisco Centre. Barnes provided each child with $500 to shop for new  top-of-the line shoes, clothes and trendy gear for themselves and their loved  ones.

"It's great to put on this event for the  third year and make these kids’ wishes come true this year," said Barnes.

Each participating child was a winner of the Holidays With Harrison essay and video  contest held during the month of December, the third year in a row Barnes has  held this event for Bay Area youth. Barnes personally selected each child whose  personal story touched him and found deserving of a special holiday experience.

"This is the best Christmas present I  ever got," said 8-year-old Jeremiah. "I got everything I wanted for  me and clothes for my mom and dad too."

After the shopping spree, the students shuttled  over to the Warriors Practice Facility in Oakland, where Barnes came to  surprise the children and wish them a Happy Holidays.

"I'm very thankful that my son had the  opportunity to get everything on his Christmas list, and was able to meet his  favorite player tonight," said Marie Garcia. "This entire experience  made his year."

These shopping sprees were part of the  Warriors Plays for the Holidays community outreach initiative and the NBA Cares  Season of Giving campaign to help brighten the lives of local families and  youth in the Bay Area. As part of the Warriors Plays for the Holidays  initiative, each Warriors player and coach will participate in at least one event  this holiday season to give back to families and youth in the Bay Area.

Plays for the Holidays

Stephen Curry, Andrew Bogut Host Make-A-Wish Youth For Warriors Wish Week

WE G.I.V.E. – Hashtag Lunchbag

Feed the Children with Stephen and Ayesha Curry

Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes Host Shopping Sprees For Bay Area Youth on Friday, December 19

Helping Hands Adopt-A-Family Event

Holidays with Harrison

Oakland PAL Food Serving

Oakland Mayor’s Community Toy Drive