Dwyane Wade at Summer Groove Youth Clinic
More than 500 kids enrolled in community organizations from across South Florida were given a unique experience to develop their basketball skills and take part in a peer leadership class during the daylong Summer Groove Youth Basketball Clinic, held on Friday, July 16th at the Miramar Youth Enrichment Center.
As part of Seminole Hard Rock Presents The Summer Groove Hosted by Zo & D. Wade, Gatorade and Nike teamed up to host the event that was developed to give kids the opportunity to learn basketball fundamentals, participate in numerous interactive activities, and hear key messages about discipline and perseverance that can be applied to all aspects of life. As an added bonus, professional athletes including Dwyane Wade and Nykesha Sales, as well as Alonzo Mourning, stopped-by to share their inspirational stories of achievement, making it a memorable summer experience for each child.
The children in attendance were made up of teams across South Florida including the Overtown Youth Center, YMCA of Miami-Dade and Broward, Broward Sheriffs Office, CMB Visions, New Jerusalem, Lady Storms, Miramar Hurricanes, Ely Tigers, Tri-County Basketball, BA Cobras, Ft. Lauderdale Police, Miramar Wildcats, and more. Each child received a pair of Nike sneakers and other goodies while participating in a series of basketball drills that were held throughout the day.
“Giving these children the opportunity to interact and learn from the top professionals in the sport is just one example of how The Summer Groove benefits our youth,” said Mourning. “Empowering these kids with the inspiration they need on the court at a young age provides them the fundamental discipline that will serve them in every aspect of life.”
“I personally had a most enjoyable day teaching these kids how to improve their skills on and off the court,” said Wade. “I was very impressed at the overall standard shown by all the children in every age range. I was particularly impressed with the girls in the group who showed some great technique and accuracy with their handling of the ball.”
Now in it’s 14th year, Seminole Hard Rock Presents The Summer Groove Hosted by Zo & D. Wade takes place throughout South Florida July 14-18, 2010, with the majority of events taking place at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The Summer Groove has become one of the largest fundraising events of the year, raising funds for programs supported by both Alonzo Mourning Charities and Wade’s World Foundation, who provide services to youth and their families throughout the community.
The 5-day Summer Groove kicked off on July 14th with The Summer Groove Golf Classic hosted at Doral Golf Resort & Spa; Youth Sports Conference Hosted by Gatorade & Nike July 15th; Youth Basketball Clinic Hosted by Gatorade & Nike July 16th; Alters Law Firm Summer Groove Comedy Jam hosted by Heineken at Hard Rock Live July 16th; Michael Fux Foundation Summer Groove Youth Empowerment Summit and Publix Charities Summer Groove Benefit Gala, themed “Aqua y Fuego, A Sizzling Summer Night” at Hard Rock Live, takes place July 17th; the Block Party Hosted by Pepsi and Carnival Cruise Lines Summer Groove All-Star Basketball Game at AmericanAirlines Arena take place on July 18th.
To purchase tickets or for more information visit www.TheSummerGroove.com or call (305) 476-0095.
(Photo credit: Mitchell Zachs/Magical Photos)
