“We’re looking to bring everybody together and have fun, but the main thing is to inform people about the importance of organ donation and to raise funds so we can continue actively assisting those in need,” said NBA Star Larry Hughes.
The St. Louis native is almost as well-known for his helping hands as he is for his hooping skills with his acts of giving and supporting worthy causes that date back almost 15 years.
This weekend his alma mater CBC High School has allowed him to host a special two-day affair for the Larry Hughes Foundation. The events will be a fun-filled platform to raise funds for their ongoing organ donation awareness initiative and to finance the random acts of kindness that Hughes and his team can be found doing on any given day.
“The list is still growing as we speak,” Hughes said about the celebs on deck for the weekend. But in the host of events he’s held over the years in the name of the foundation, Hughes has brought plenty of A-listers to the STL.
The festivities start on Friday with a Dunkin’ for Donors event that will serve as a donation drive as well as a fundraiser. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
On Saturday night, things get glamorous with a Roaring Twenties Casino Night Party.
“We wanted to jazz it up a bit and put some fun into it,” Hughes said. “We are going to have gambling tables and funny money, with prizes and giveaways.”
While there will be plenty of partying and top-notch sportsmanship, the intention will always be top of mind.
Hughes said, “The main thing is to pull people into what we are trying to do. We want to get the community involved so we can help as many people who are waiting for us to lend a hand as we possibly can.”
Although officially launched in 2000, the Larry Hughes Foundation has been serving communities across the nation since 1998.
“On any given night, there would be 20,000 people in the arena in different cities,” Hughes said of playing ball. “You have to give back to some of those faces who recognize you – you just have to.”
Hughes has given away gas, fed the hungry, and offered toys and gifts to families in need when they couldn’t afford Christmas.
“There’s no rhyme or reason to why I love to help people,” Hughes said. “It’s just that we have so much and have been so blessed that we want to give.”
The organ donation arm of the Larry Hughes Foundation, which he runs with his mother Vanessa Hughes and Kim Moses, was inspired by the experience of his younger brother Justin.
Justin passed away in 2006 at the age of 20 after living for nearly a decade as a heart transplant recipient.
Vanessa and Larry have continually used the foundation to honor his memory, help other families who are currently have a child with similar health challenges and to raise awareness of the need to donate organs and tissue.
Hughes says that he is taking a more active role in the organization and using his recognition as a professional athlete to inspire the youth to get involved.
“This foundation is what I’m here for,” said Hughes. “I see a bigger picture as far as things that I can do to give back all that I have received for so many years. I’m going out more, speaking and attending more meetings. I’m going to the communities where the youth are and the African Americans are and giving my story.”
He feels like the first step is awareness and that through this he can educate while entertaining.
“CBC is really rolling out the red carpet for us,” Hughes said. “It’s going to be fun. I hope that when they come out that we can pull people into coming along with us to help others. Organ donation is the greatest gift you can give, but if you can help someone in any situation it’s your duty as a human being to do so.”
The Larry Hughes Foundation Dunking for Donors takes place on Friday, July 6 at 7 p.m. The Roaring Twenties Casino Night takes place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 7 at 7 p.m. at CBC High School, 1850 De La Salle Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141. For more information, visit www.larryhughesworld.com.
