By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Just like Damien Wilkins’ professional basketball career, his annual “Fun Day” has gotten better each year.
While Wilkins has enjoyed holding his annual “Fun Day” in Washington, this year’s community get-together, scheduled for June 21 at the P.S. Jones Middle School field across from the Boys &Girls Club, is in jeopardy. So, too, is his basketball camp, which is scheduled to run June 17-20, tentatively scheduled to be held at P.S. Jones.
Wilkins, who put up career-high numbers with 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.3 blocks per game this season, has enjoyed returning to his hometown each year. In order to put on quality events for the community, he spent up to $13,000 of his money in each of the previous three “Fun Days.”
The “Fun Day” includes food, drinks, games, activities and prizes giveaways, student recognition and more. The event “gives our kids love, hope and opportunities.”
Wilkins’ goal is to “encourage and motivate the kids to stay in school and out of trouble and to do something positive with their lives. He is trying to instill good morals by encouraging youth to believe in themselves, never give up and to follow their dreams.”
Wilkins was hoping for a bigger and better “Fun Day” and basketball camp this year, looking to make it more of a community-oriented event. The focus of the event is to “develop great partnerships with organizations and leaders in the community that believe in our mission. Together, we can work to build a strong presence in the community.”
He has called on businesses in town to drum up some support, but the Washington native isn’t get the responses he anticipated.
Wilkins said he’s never put on the “Fun Day” and basketball camp to bring recognition to himself. It’s his chance to return home and give back to the community.
While Wilkins said he has had some positive feedback from a couple businesses, including Wendy’s, several others haven’t been as cooperative.
Wilkins, who recently donated an air conditioning unit to the Boys &Girls Club, said his main concern is helping out the kids in Washington.
Businesses and organizations can help out in a variety of ways, including giving a charitable donation, making out gift certificates to the Damien Wilkins 2008 Fun Day, providing gift prizes and making tax-deductible donations made payable to Dyna2mic Foundation, Inc.
Organizations can learn more about how to be a sponsor or make a contribution by visiting www.dynamicfoundationinc.com, or sending an e-mail to Info@dynamicfoundationinc.com.