Giving back

	OCU Men's and Women's Basketball

Jan. 4, 2008

Submitted by Richard Tortorelli, Sports Informaiton Director, rtortorelli@okcu.edu

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Oklahoma City University's men's and women's basketball teams visited the Memorial Park Boys & Girls Club in Oklahoma City on Friday afternoon.

The Stars spent the time playing games with the children of the Boys & Girls Club and shared lunch with them. The OCU players and coaches had a question-and-answer session with the children and discussed the importance of setting goals and striving to achieve them.

Boys & Girls Club members will be allowed into Saturday's basketball games free of admission. The Stars take on Southern Nazarene (Okla.) at Abe Lemons Arena at 6 p.m. in women's play and 8 p.m. in men's play.

OCU players Kameron Gray and Richard Jackson spent time at local Boys & Girls Clubs growing up. Gray, a senior guard from Oakland, Calif., was the NAIA Tournament most valuable player in helping the Stars win the NAIA Division I national championship last season.

"I was there every day shooting pool or playing ball," Gray said. "This gave me an opportunity to give back what they had given me. It felt really good."

The Memorial Park Boys & Girls Club is located nearly three miles away from the OCU campus.

"I want our kids to identify with our community," said A. Jaye Johnson, unit director. "This provides them with an example. If they work hard and study hard they can attain their goals."

Boys & Girls Clubs offer safe places to learn and grow for youth. Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence.

To learn about Oklahoma City University athletics click here.