Kevin Durant Charity Foundation

Andy Fahey

While the Warriors are in Washington D.C. preparing for a matchup against the Wizards, Kevin Durant was making moves off the court, opening The Durant Center on Wednesday in his hometown of Prince George’s County, MD.

The new facility will devote time and resources to developing a more promising future for Maryland local youth by providing academic, financial, and social support to underserved students in the area. The ultimate goal? College graduation.

In partnership with College Track, The Durant Center will help guide students from their early high school years through college graduation, providing tutoring services, funds for college scholarships, and adequate career development.

“The full circle stuff that you dream about,” Durant told the Washington Post. “So many people that meant so much to me at that time, and to see my name on the building… Hopefully that inspires kids in the area.“

Durant first decided to collaborate with the organization after visiting a College Track center in Oakland. “It wasn’t so much that he didn’t want to do something in the Bay,” Elissa Salas, College Track’s chief executive stated, “But he was looking to really invest really deeply in his home community.”

The Durant Center is the first East Coast site established by College Track.

The nine-time NBA All-Star has pledged $10 million dollars over the next decade to the program, as the organization focuses on a 10-year plan for students in these underserved communities. Starting this year, The Durant Center will look to positively impact the lives of 69 students from the inaugural class, and thousands of students thereafter in the Washington D.C. area.

“I had coaches and teachers that believed I could be something special,” he said in an interview with The Mercury News. “That’s where it starts… You need someone with more experience who believe in you.“

His contributions and establishment of The Durant Center will be a long-term resource and center of support for students in lower income areas of Maryland for years to come.

durant-opens-new-education-center-in-hometown

Durant Opens New Education Center In Hometown

Warriors All-Star forward Kevin Durant, as part of the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation's BUILD IT AND THEY WILL BALL program,  unveiled four newly refurbished basketball courts at Lincoln Square Park in downtown Oakland on Wednesday, May 17. Durant, in partnership with the Warriors Community Foundation, the Good Tidings Foundation, the LISC/ESPN Pilot Home Court Program and the Finish Line Youth Foundation, hosted a court unveiling ceremony inside the new Lincoln Square Gym at 261 11th Street, Oakland.

“Being able to bring the BUILD IT AND THEY WILL BALL program to Oakland is a great honor for me,” said Durant. “Just this week I’ve had the opportunity to bring this program to my hometown of Seat Pleasant and now my current home in Oakland, with plans to continue to expand throughout the world. This program means a lot to me and I’m proud that I can help the next generation of kids chase their dreams on new, fresh courts.”

At the unveiling at Lincoln Square Gym, over 200 Oakland youth, ages 6-18, had the opportunity to interact with the 2013-14 NBA MVP during basketball clinics on the four newly renovated basketball courts, led by Warriors Basketball Camp staff.

Through his Kevin Durant Charity Foundation’s signature program, BUILD IT AND THEY WILL BALL, the Warriors All-Star Forward has completed court renovations in Oklahoma City, OK, Austin, TX; Seattle, WA; Guangzhou, China; and Berlin, Germany along with unveiling two newly renovated basketball courts in his hometown of Seat Pleasant, Maryland today, Monday, May 15. Upcoming court renovations will include additional locations in the Bay Area (Summer 2017), New York City (June 2017) and Delhi, India (Summer 2017).

Through the Warriors Makin’ Hoops program, the Warriors Community Foundation and Good Tidings Foundation have refurbished over 70 basketball courts around the Bay Area since 2000, helping to revitalize local neighborhoods and communities.

Kevin Durant Charity Foundation

Durant Opens New Education Center In Hometown

Kevin Durant Charity Foundation Unveils Four Newly Renovated Basketball Courts at Oakland's Lincoln Square Park