ST. CROIX — Two tents at the Boys & Girls Club in Frederiksted were crammed on Saturday morning with individuals, among them local officials to include Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett, Senate Majority Leader Neville James and Senator Sammuel Sanes, as well as a representative from the office of Governor Kenneth Mapp.
The came to witness a promise kept by the Rakeem Christmas Foundation, and a dream come true for the children of the Boys and Girls Club, whose basketball court had not been given a face-lift with paint or patchwork, but was completely rebuilt with over 60 yards of concrete and shock resistant tiles, among other improvements.
It was made possible with over $65,000 from NBA player Rakeem Christmas.
Local leaders and Boys & Girls Club officials expressed their gratitude to Mr. Christmas for his selflessness during the short ribbon-cutting ceremony. The foundation’s president, Jameela Hamid Joseph, recalled the budding days of the foundation, noting that Mr. Christmas, who was troubled by the violence that rocked St. Croix in early 2016, wanted to provide an outlet where the island’s youngsters could safely express themselves from the sport that Mr. Rakeem loves. Mrs. Joseph’s husband and vice president of the foundation, Ryan Anthony Joseph, made it a point during his talk to call on the community for help in bringing Mr. Christmas’s vision come to pass, noting that the goal of repairing about 20 dilapidated basketball courts around the territory for the youth is no small task. He also called on lawmakers to use their influence to aid in the effort.
Below, a video showing scenes of the dedication.
Tags: rakeem christmas, Rakeem Christmas Foundation
Share On Facebook
Tweet It
