NBA greats Dikembe Mutombo and Steve Smith to host members of local Boys & Girls Clubs on Saturday, December 16
Emerald Isle, N.C. (December 8, 2017) — NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Steve Smith and eight-time NBA All Star Dikembe Mutombo will visit the Morehead City Sunshine Lady Club Saturday, December 16, where they, along with representatives from Transportation Impact, will host a basketball camp for area members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain.
Now a basketball analyst, Smith played 14 seasons in the NBA and also contributed to U.S. basketball dominance, winning gold medals in the 1994 FIFA World Championship and the 2000 Summer Olympics. One of only three NBA players to make seven three-pointers in a quarter, Smith showed his shooting prowess early, finishing his college career as the leading all-time scorer in Michigan State history, with 2,263 points.
Mutombo played 18 seasons in the NBA and is considered one of the greatest defensive players of all time, winning the Defensive Player Award of the Year four times. The 7’ 2” big man also has a big heart. Outside of basketball, he has become well known for his humanitarian activities, founding the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997 to improve living conditions in his native Democratic Republic of Congo. He is also a long-time supporter of the Special Olympics and has worked to reduce polio globally.
“When I saw this on the program at the Nsoro auction, I thought it was a fantastic opportunity to give our kids the chance to learn from both defensive and offensive greats,” said Keith Byrd, Co-Founder and Partner at Transportation Impact. “But more than just the basketball, both men have big hearts, and I know it will be an unforgettable experience for the kids to spend a few hours connecting with such wonderful guys who are also legends.’”
The Nsoro Foundation raises money to provide academic scholarships and college preparatory programs to youth in foster care, with the goal of enabling all to have access to post-secondary education.
“We hosted the first basketball camp last year, with Rasheed Wallace, and it was a great success. We hope that even more boys and girls will be able to take part this year and learn first-hand that if you work hard enough and are determined enough, you can reach your dreams.”
The all-ages event will take place at the Morehead City Sunshine Lady Club from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The event is not open to the public, but all members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain and their families are welcome to attend. We recommend arriving early, as space is limited.
About Transportation Impact
Transportation Impact is a supply chain spend-management firm headquartered in Emerald Isle, N.C. A 5-time Inc. 5000 honoree, TI improves our customers’ logistics operations through advanced TMS technology. Paired with our innovative “cost-based” negotiation strategy, this ensures our customers benefit from low small parcel and LTL rates, accurate invoice auditing, and optimized routing decisions on every shipment. In addition to the Inc. 5000, in 2017 the company was also awarded a second-consecutive listing on both the North Carolina Fast 40 and the North Carolina Top 100 private companies, and a spot on the Inc. Best Workplaces list, as voted by TI employees. For more information, visit transportationimpact.com.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain (BGCCP) is an innovative leader in youth development services in Pitt, Lenoir, Beaufort, Greene, Martin, Carteret, and Craven counties. BGCCP has provided services since 1997 and specializes in after-school care, delivering nationally recognized programs as well as homegrown programming for youth ages 6–18 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Our mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. For more information, please visit www.bgccp.com/.