A franchise player is a leader on and off the court; they represent their respected team all year long, are the face of the organization and they are the heroes in times of triumph and the scapegoat when things fall through. For Dwight Howard and his Orlando Magic, this season was looked upon as a disappointment, coming out short in their first round, 6-game matchup with the Atlanta Hawks. That being said, the face of Orlando hasn’t let the disappointment phase his positive outlook for the future of the franchise and his never ending charitable work in the Orlando area.
The playoffs are always the most important time for any professional North American athlete; from a busy playing schedule to the pressure of reporters and the faithful fans that can get carried away at times, the playoffs are the big show. Dwight Howard left all he had out on the court and still didn’t hesitate to lend his name and time to Big Brothers Big Sisters; giving to a cause that he connects with on a deep level.
On Valentine’s Day of this year ‘Superman’ started the D12 Foundation; an organization which focuses on creating a positive impact on the lives of children across the world. Just last week Howard was named the Celebrity Ambassador of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Start Something campaign. The national campaign urges all adults to show support for quality, long-term mentoring for children who face adversity overcome the odds. Alongside his D12 Foundation, Howard has donated $10,000 to the campaign.
Since being drafted to the NBA in 2004, Howard has continued to show his loyalty to local Orlando causes and has used his NBA career and faith in God to give back and lend a hand to those in need. His need for giving has not gone unnoticed, as he was awarded the Rich & Helen Devos Community Enrichment Award (CEA) for 2010-11, marking the 4th consecutive year he has received the award and his 5th time in total.
During his time with the Magic, Dwight Howard has been named to the NBA All-Star team five times to go along with the five Community Enrichment Awards to solidify him as more than just a franchise player. He is a dedicated teammate and has more than the will to win, while continuing to empower today’s youth with the proper tools they need to succeed.
To learn more about the Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Start Something campaign, visit http://www.bbbs.org/site/c.9iILI3NGKhK6F/b.5962351/k.42EB/We_are_here_to_start_something.htm
To learn more about D12 Foundation, visit http://www.d12foundation.org/
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