Spring Break
Okafor Scores For Charity
Former UConn Basketball Star Gives $250K To Help Inner-City Students
Brittany Dorn
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: News
HARTFORD - Hartford elementary school students found someone they could look up to - both literally and figuratively - in their school gym Thursday.
UConn alum Emeka Okafor, who currently plays in the NBA for the Charlotte Bobcats, made an appearance at Clark Elementary School in Hartford to present a contribution to the Husky Sport Program.
Okafor is donating $250,000 over the course of five years to the program, which is run by the Neag School of Education.
The Husky Sport Program, which is entering its fourth year of existence, brings UConn students to inner-city schools in Hartford, where they teach children the importance of nutrition and fitness, and impart life lessons.
Okafor, who graduated in 2004 after winning an NCAA championship, is well-known for both his basketball skills and academic success.
As excited students and audience members looked on, Okafor was thanked for his donation and praised for his talent and hard work.
UConn President Michael Hogan called Okafor an outstanding athlete, student and mentor who possessed "vast natural gifts and talents."
"What you may not know is Emeka also graduated with a 3.8 in finance and he did it in less than four years," Hogan said. "Emeka at UConn was two kinds of stars: academic and athletic."
Men's basketball head coach Jim Calhoun said he was proud to have been Okafor's coach and impressed with the way the basketball player conducted his day-to-day life.
The 6-foot-10 Okafor, stooping a bit to speak into the microphone, said he credited his achievements to the people who pushed him to succeed. He candidly spoke about insecurities he felt at different stages in his life - when first entering high school, while a freshman at UConn and finally upon entering the NBA. There were times, he said, when he questioned whether he was "cut out for" the challenges presented to him. It was at these moments of doubt that he depended on the advice and support of others, whether they were his parents, teachers or coach, he said.
UConn alum Emeka Okafor, who currently plays in the NBA for the Charlotte Bobcats, made an appearance at Clark Elementary School in Hartford to present a contribution to the Husky Sport Program.
Okafor is donating $250,000 over the course of five years to the program, which is run by the Neag School of Education.
The Husky Sport Program, which is entering its fourth year of existence, brings UConn students to inner-city schools in Hartford, where they teach children the importance of nutrition and fitness, and impart life lessons.
Okafor, who graduated in 2004 after winning an NCAA championship, is well-known for both his basketball skills and academic success.
As excited students and audience members looked on, Okafor was thanked for his donation and praised for his talent and hard work.
UConn President Michael Hogan called Okafor an outstanding athlete, student and mentor who possessed "vast natural gifts and talents."
"What you may not know is Emeka also graduated with a 3.8 in finance and he did it in less than four years," Hogan said. "Emeka at UConn was two kinds of stars: academic and athletic."
Men's basketball head coach Jim Calhoun said he was proud to have been Okafor's coach and impressed with the way the basketball player conducted his day-to-day life.
The 6-foot-10 Okafor, stooping a bit to speak into the microphone, said he credited his achievements to the people who pushed him to succeed. He candidly spoke about insecurities he felt at different stages in his life - when first entering high school, while a freshman at UConn and finally upon entering the NBA. There were times, he said, when he questioned whether he was "cut out for" the challenges presented to him. It was at these moments of doubt that he depended on the advice and support of others, whether they were his parents, teachers or coach, he said.
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