Jax Charity Basketball Game returns on Saturday; fundraiser for homeless Duval County students

JACKSONVILLE, Florida. “It’s less than a week before the charity basketball game starts in Jacksonville.

On Saturday, July 22, the Paxon School for Advanced Studies will host a pickup between selected high school students and local celebrities starting at 6:00 pm.

This is more than just a game. He raises money to help homeless students in Duval County.

This is the core mission of the I’m A Star Foundation, which is a student-led leadership program.

Jordan Sanders, Damaya Dukes and Jamie Edwards help organize the game.

“I’m a little sad because a lot of people don’t realize how lucky they really are,” said Sanders, who is about to start his freshman year at Raines High School.

“If we’re not going to do it, then who will?” said Dukes, who has been with the foundation for five years. “They rely on us as leaders, children or students to help the same students who come to our schools or live in the same community as us.”

“It’s not fair,” Edwards said of students who deal with the homeless. Edwards is moving into 8th grade and has been in the program for three years. “Some students really have nowhere to go [and] put your head down at night.”

This year’s goal is to raise $50,000 for more than 3,200 students who are now homeless in Duval County, according to the foundation.

Local high school basketball players will take on a selection of “local celebrities” on the court.

Charles Griggs is one of those celebrities who gets into the game every time it happens.

He represents the Mentor Program – 100 Blacks from Jacksonville.

Duval County School Board member Darryl Willey participates in the game for the first time.

“We have a number of homeless students who come to our schools every day not really knowing what their situation will be,” Willey said. “Everyone deserves to have this house or this roof over their heads, or at least the resources to survive the situation they are in.”

“I think that’s sad news for us as a community to live with,” Griggs said. “This is an opportunity for us to stand up and make a difference.”

The charity basketball game started in 2013.

Since then, over $126,000 has been raised to help homeless students in Duval County with things like rent, doctor and dentist fees, school uniforms, toiletries, meal vouchers, linens, sports equipment, school supplies , graduation, SAT, ACT and college. Applications.

The last time the exhibition was held in 2018.

News4Jax host and I-Team reporter Vic Micolucci participated as a “local celebrity”.

Dukes believes the event will be full of action and fun, but knows that the purpose of the game is far more important.

“I could be in the same position,” Dukes said. “I feel it’s very important that everyone comes out and helps support the community. It’s very important to go out and acknowledge and be aware of these things that are in our community that are vexing our community.”

Tickets for the game can be purchased online or at the door.

They cost $10 for adults and $7 for children.

More info about the game and why: https://im-a-star.ticketleap.com/jaxhelps/

Copyright 2023 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.

Content Source