Chris Paul, Karl-Anthony Towns surprise students at NYC Assist event
During the 2015–16 regular season, State Farm and the NBA partnered to create the NBA Cares State Farm Assist Tracker, which contributed $5 for each tracked assist to Boys & Girls Clubs of America in order to help renovate select Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. Tuesday was certainly an embodiment of the "Exist to Assist" program, as the Chris Paul Family Foundation, NBA Cares, and State Farm got together to unveil the NYC Assist at the Educational Alliance Boys & Girls Clubs’ Edgies Clubhouse in New York City’s Lower East Side.
Paul, Karl-Anthony Towns, and NBA rookies Kris Dunn and Jakob Poeltl were each at the event to aid in the inauguration of the NYC Assist. The players engaged with the children throughout the afternoon, both at the new mobile Teen Learning Center and in an NBA Cares Basketball Clinic. The children had no clue that the players would be in attendance, which made the event all the more heartwarming.
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The Clubhouse at the Educational Alliance Boys and Girls Clubs has provided educational support and college preparation to teens who live and attend school in New York City’s Lower East Side for more than a decade. The assistance provided by the Clubhouse has proved invaluable to future success, with 100% of this year’s seniors set to attend college in the fall.
NYC Assist will only amplify all that the Clubhouse has offered to the children of New York City’s Lower East Side. Thanks to the program, the clubhouse now houses a state-of-the-art mobile Teen Learning Center, which is aimed at helping local youth develop the skills necessary to be successful in today’s intensifying digital economy.
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Paul, whose Family Foundation has enriched numerous communities over the past 10 years, was enthusiastic about the unveiling. He has partnered with State Farm with the intent to put learning centers in underprivileged areas to allow local youth to be a part of the technology boom.
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Paul has served as an inspiration to many, including NBA Draft prospect Kris Dunn, who was thrilled to be at Tuesday’s event.
“I’m just trying to help out the kids," Dunn said. "I’ve been in this situation at some point in my life. Today is a great experience for me. I’m trying to give the same guidance to these kids that I was given. I’m very blessed.”
