By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
Boris Diaw received the 2018 Mannie Jackson – Basketball’s Human Spirit Award, along with JJ Barea and Tina Charles, for his humanitarian action across the planet.
Diaw, who announced his retirement in midst of the HOF feasts has been a leader both inside and outside the court.
As adapted by Hoophall:
Diaw, whose father is Senegalese, leads a delegation of basketball professionals each summer to Senegal and Peru to help countries who grossly underfund training for children, partnering with groups like the Babac’ards Foundation, who has been running basketball camps in Senegal since 2005. Diaw has also homed in on higher quality girls sports programming, founding a SEED Academy for girls in 2013. The school enrolls up to 20 girls a year based on athletic, academic and leadership potential. Diaw was inspired to get involved after learning only 39 percent of Senegalese women are literate. Diaw’s commitment to impacting the youth extends further than basketball training and empowering future leaders. His foundation also supports an orphanage in Senegal and Le Dantec hospital, funding a game room and camps for children battling cancer.
Photo credit: twitter/Hoophall