AFRICAN BASKETBALL (ABO) AND THE JEWISH COACHES ASSOCIATION (JCA) ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
Posted on 20. Jun, 2010 by ABO in Blog
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, NY, JUNE 3, 2010: African Basketball (ABO) and the Jewish Coaches Association (JCA) announced today an exclusive partnership that gives JCA the opportunity to support African Basketball (ABO) charity initiatives in Africa, and create opportunities for U.S. coaches to volunteer in African communities as motivational speakers, basketball camp coaches, and instructors. JCA will also promote fundraising efforts for upcoming ABO Youth Leadership and Basketball Camps in Africa.
“This is a great opportunity for ABO and JCA to use sport as a tool to educate the kids and participants in many African communities, on the value of leadership, education, life skills, and a healthy lifestyle, with the help of our volunteers, sponsors, and partners from the United States.” said Mr. Eyo Effiong, President and Founder of African Basketball. “We are very excited to offer our services to ABO and to work together toward this common goal.” Said Mr. Jason Belzer, Executive Director at JCA.
About African Basketball (www.africanbasketball.org)
African Basketball (ABO) is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt USA-based, non-profit organization dedicated to the development of Africa through Sports. ABO organizes basketball programs, integrated with life skills, and leadership education for participants (boys and girls ages 8-21), coaches, and administrators. ABO uses basketball camps and coaches’ clinics as a tool to educate participants on the value of leadership, education, life skills, and a healthy lifestyle.
About JCA (www.jewishcoaches.com)
The Jewish Coaches Association was founded in 2006. The non-profit organization supports Jewish-American college, high school and youth basketball coaches around the United States. The association is an advocacy group for coaches to represent coaches to the NCAA and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
James Kamau, Board Member
Posted on 23. May, 2010 by ABO in Blog
James Anthony Kamau was born in Nairobi, Kenya to a community fraught with drugs, violence and unemployment. His experiences as a child led to a desire for social change: he followed this initiative by earning a diploma in community development from the Kenya School of Social Service.
James fearlessly entered the world of activism in 2003 and has spent the last seven years performing youth work and facilitating community development. His years playing premiere-league basketball in Kenya gave him the opportunity to mentor youth through Basketball, and today he is actively involved in sport training. He is also a life skills coach – which includes HIV/AIDS education, social entrepreneurial training and leadership development – as well as an event planner in both the corporate and non-profit realms.
James recently founded Youth Initiative Canada, a multi-dimensional organization that partners Canadian and African youth to create sustainable change. His training in volunteer management by Voluntary Service Overseas has proved invaluable in mobilizing others with a desire for social justice, and his work as an entertainment entrepreneur has enabled him to bring two worlds together for the common good.
James continues to use his professionalism and compassion as he serves on the African Basketball’s Board of Directors, to promote athletic integrity, personal empowerment, community advocacy and sports development.
Eyo Effiong, Founder & President
Posted on 23. May, 2010 by ABO in Blog
Eyo Effiong, Founder & President
Eyo Effiong was born in Nigeria, and grew up in Lagos State in a community plagued with hopelessness due to pervasive resource mismanagement, lack of good social structures, and leadership. His experiences in Nigeria led to a desire for change in the African Community, and he founded a charity organization, African Basketball (ABO) with a focus on African Youth Leadership and Basketball Development.
ABO uses basketball camps and coaches’ clinics as a tool to educate participants on the value of leadership, education, life skills, and a healthy lifestyle.
Effiong played at Winthrop University, where he graduated cum laude, and was also an Academic All-American, Big South All-Academic, four-time Big South Conference champion, and a former Nigerian National Basketball Team standout. Effiong holds an MBA in Accounting from Winthrop University, and currently works as a Senior Accountant at Rothstein Kass.
With the help of sponsors, donors, and many international partners, Effiong continues to use his compassion for the African communities and professional background to promote, and develop programs and provide resources designed to empower African kids, both boys and girls, to discover and implement their life goals.
Nigeria: ABO Ambassador Julius Francis to give back to his community in the Niger Delta region
Posted on 25. Apr, 2010 by ABO in Blog
April 25, 2010:
Julius Francis to lead the 2010 summer ABO Leadership & Basketball Camp in Nigeria.
Clifton, New Jersey — Winthrop University freshman basketball player Julius Francis a Nigerian native will travel to Warri, Delta State, Nigeria to give back to his community. Julius plans to organize and run the ABO Leadership & Basketball Camp in July 23 – July 25, 2010.
The Niger Delta is an unstable area of Nigeria, due to violence emanating from struggle for control over oil revenue and resources.
“Julius has a genuine concern for kids in the Niger Delta communities where he grew up, and an appreciation for the opportunities he has had playing basketball in the United States while working toward his degree,” said Mr. Effiong the President and Founder of ABO, in his organization’s appointment of Julius as an ABO Ambassador.
Francis, a 6-11 center from Warri, Delta State, Nigeria, attended the 2006 ABO Leadership & Basketball Camp in Lagos, Nigeria, and volunteered at the 2009 Camp in Calabar, Cross River State, as a camp director and will run the first ABO Leadership & Basketball Camp in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
2009 ABO Girls Basketball Camp (Nigeria)
Posted on 24. Nov, 2009 by ABO in Events
Syesha Thomas
Director & Founder of HOOPADDICT, LLC.
Hoopaddict is dedicated to the betterment of children and our communities. Hoopaddict uses the game of basketball as a catalyst to educate our youth, develop their self-esteem, foster teamwork, and bridge the gap between diverse backgrounds. Hoopaddict creates training programs, provides individual and group instruction, and events to assist youth and adults in getting fit, staying fit and living fit. Hoopaddict utilizes unique basketball training programs to promote the academic and social development training for children by providing an atmosphere of encouragement, with moral structure, positive role models and activities that are engaging. Hoopaddict teaches the fundamentals of basketball while shaping the character of each participant at the same time. Hoopaddict’s outreach Program BSB-Business Side of Basketball teaches young women that they do have options off the court. check out her website at: http://www.hoopaddict.net/
2009 ABO Boys Basketball Camp & Coaches’ Clinic
Posted on 24. Nov, 2009 by ABO in Events
Brian McCormick
Founder: The Cross Over Movement
Brian McCormick is the Performance Director for Train for Hoops and the creator of 180 Shooter. He is a coach, trainer and author who penned Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development. McCormick has coached professionally in Sweden and Ireland, and coached and trained youth, high school and college teams and players in the United States. He currently advises clubs, schools and federations on their development systems and coach education programs. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach (NSCA) and Performance Enhancement Specialist (NASM). He lives in Irvine where he trains players. For more information on training or his books, check out his website at: http://thecrossovermovement.wordpress.com/
