The American National Basketball Association (NBA) yesterday
launched a center in Shanghai to help migrant workers'
children.
The NBA Cares Learn and Play Space officially opened its doors
at the Lu Bing Hua Migrant School in Minhang District.
NBA Commissioner David
Stern walks two children into the Lu Bin Hua Migrant School
yesterday before opening the Cares Learn and Play Space.
Co-created by the NBA's partners - the Shanghai Charity
Foundation, adidas and Lenovo - the new center includes a library,
a technology area with 16 new Lenovo laptops, a multipurpose room
and an adidas basketball court refurbishment.
"For kids, concerns should be given not only to their growth of
mind, but also to their fitness," said David Stern, the NBA
commissioner, at the opening ceremony. "Basketball can be a bridge
connecting the world. All kids have an equal opportunity of
learning and playing."
Attended by Cleveland Cavaliers players Donyell Marshall, Devin
Brown and Cedric Simmons and NBA legends George Gervin, Daryl
Dawkins, Rick Barry and Vlade Divac, a skills clinic was held after
the ceremony.
"I would like to contribute to the world's community and I am
glad to see those kids have a safe place to play and have access to
thousands of books from both the library and the Internet," said
Marshall.
The inauguration marked the start of NBA Cares program during
the NBA China Games 2007. It is part of the NBA's far-reaching
social-responsibility program.
NBA legends will join international film star Jet Li and his One
Foundation today and officially open a new fun house at the
Children's Palace of China Welfare Institute.
"The NBA has served as an envoy between China and the United
States," said Xia Yongfang, SCF's general secretary. "Both charity
and basketball are without borders."
(Shanghai Daily October 17, 2007)
