| Kiki Vandeweghe and the Courts of Dreams |
Kiki Vandeweghe and Marc Cornstein were on opposite sides of the negotiating table this summer, but now they're working together.
When Vandeweghe heard Cornstein, the agent for Nenad Krstic and Bostjan Nachbar, wanted to restore basketball courts in New York City the Nets general manager wanted to be a part of it.
So Vandeweghe agreed to be on the Advisory Board of the Courts of Dreams Foundation, which will have its first fund-raising event on Saturday from 2-4 p.m. at the Sports Club/LA on 61st Street between 1st and 2nd Aves.
There will be a basketball clinic for kids ages 5-18, a Q&A with the pros and a raffle. Along with Vande weghe, Knicks president Donnie Walsh - also on the advisory board - and coach Mike D'Antoni have agreed to attend Saturday along with other NBA guests.
"I think that they’re doing a tremendous thing," Vandeweghe said. "The Courts of Dreams Foundation, their mission is to restore outside basketball courts throughout New York City. Basketball is a great way for kids and adults to get together to understand teamwork. It’s just a great, great way for them to understand leadership. It’s tremendous.
"I do think that basketball is extremely healthy and it’s important for kids to get out and play and play basketball. It’s such a tremendous game. Courts of Dreams Foundation is doing something extremely positive to help kids throughout the New York area. That’s something you definitely want to support."
It's the baby of Marc and Nataha Cor nstein of Pinnacle Management, who established this project in conjunction with their company's 10-year anniversary of representing NBA players.
They have partnered with the government of New York and the City has agreed to match all the contributions dollar for dollar. Their hope is to be so successful in New York that they branch out to refurbish the courts in every NBA city and eventually partner it and take it global.
"We wanted to do something where we were going to give back to our community beyond writing a check and giving to an existing charity and we wanted to see if we could do it with a tie in to the sport we work in," Marc Cornstein said.
"Specifically for Saturday we’re hopeful to raise some money but also spread the word on the foundation and hope to snowball this event so we get local communities excited about this project," Cornstein said. "Certainly, we’re counting on Kiki’s help and Mike D’Antoni’s and Donnie Walsh's. They’ve all been fantastic. We’re hopeful we’re going to get continued support from both franchises and from all of the people involved so that we can really be effective in our mission."
For more information on Saturday's event or to donate to the Courts of Dreams Foundatio log onto http://www.pinnaclehoops.com/CourtsofDreams/index.php.
by Al Iannazzone
Used courtesy of: Bergen Record |
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