Goddard Riverside Community Center is thrilled to welcome New York basketball legend Felipe Lopez to our Beacon youth program on Thursday. Lopez will share some advice – and some on-court moves – with young people in the program at an NBA Cares basketball clinic. Up to 100 youth will participate, and each will get a t-shirt to take home.
Lopez was a star in the high-profile basketball program at New York City’s Rice High School in the early 90s. He played for St. John’s University from 1994-98, graduating as its third all-time highest scorer with 1,927 points. He went on to play for the NBA’s Vancouver Grizzlies, Washington Wizards and Minnesota Timberwolves. Lopez became an ambassador for NBA Cares, the league’s community outreach initiative, in 2008.
“Meeting someone who’s played in the NBA will be a thrilling experience for the young people at Beacon,” said Evie Joselow, Director of Individual, Group and Corporate Volunteer Programs at Goddard Riverside Community Center. “We’re grateful to NBA Cares for sharing their time and expertise.”
NBA Vice President of Youth and Basketball Development David Krichavsky will also volunteer at the clinic.
The NBA first reached out to Goddard through an employee whose child once attended youth programs here. That employee, and her child – who is now grown – are expected to attend the clinic.
Our Beacon program provides safe, educational and fun summer activities free of charge for Upper West Side children ages 11-13.