Professional athletes holding camps for kids isn't exactly a new endeavor. It's a popular form of activity for players looking to give back to the community and pay forward the success they're reaping. Most of the time, however, these camps don't come for free, often charging each attendees hundreds of dollars. Jabari Parker isn't one of those guys, though, and in fact has been staging free summer camps for kids since getting drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks second overall in 2014.
In a story by Gerry Woelfel on Woelfelpressbox.com, Parker was painted as a genuine good fellow who merely just wants to see kids learn from the pros at zero expense.
“I make enough money,’’ Parker responded when asked why he provides these free camps. “And these are kids. Why should I charge them when I don’t have to? By doing this, I’m hopefully benefiting their future in some way.
“I always felt if you’re going to do something for charity, it’s got to be 100 percent. That’s just who I am.’’
It's a rare and admirable display of altruism from an athlete like Jabari Parker, who manages to find time for charity despite recuperating from an ACL injury that left him playing just 51 games last season.
The issue of athletes charging bloated fees for their training camps has also been raised last April by Telvin Smith of the Jacksonville Jaguars. It could be remembered that Smith went on an Instagram rant, chastising fellow athletes whose training camps often becoming a financial burden for the families of kids who just wants to sharpen their skills on the field.
Follow Us
Subscribe