© Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Damian Lillard makes the Christmas of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee a lot merrier
When Damian Lillard is not on the court giving buckets to opposing defenses, he's giving back to the community. Earlier this week, the seven-time All-Star spent time with the children of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and surprised them with Adidas shoes, a gift card to Kohls, and tickets to their game against the Indiana Pacers.
Long-standing relationship
This isn't the first time Lillard has worked with the Boys & Girls Clubs, as he has spent time and resources with the organization's chapters in Oakland, New York, and his previous stop, Portland. Dame shared that the Boys & Girls Clubs holds a special place in his heart as this was where he spent a lot of time growing up.
"As a kid, I went to the Boys & Girls Club. Just knowing what it's about. A lot of times, you got to the Boys & Girls Club, your parents gotta work, your family is busy, and they need you to be able to be dropped off somewhere that's productive, whether that's sports, arts and crafts, activities and stuff like that," Lillard shared.
How the Boys & Girls Clubs helped him
Lillard added that the time he spent in the Boys & Girls Clubs was meaningful, as he forged many relationships and learned to develop his personality.
"A lot of stuff that I picked up as a kid I picked up in the Boys & Girls Club. Everybody can't afford to have nannies and daycares and all that kind of stuff, so you need something like that that's public. You build a lot of your friendships. You learn how to protect yourself and defend yourself and speak up for yourself, usually in those type of environments," Lillard added.
Knowing how much the Boys & Girls Clubs meant to him, it was a no-brainer for him to give back to the organization that had done so much for him and other kids in the country.
"These kids, they're not going to get this experience all the time. This is not something they're going to have all the time, and it only takes a little bit of my time and a little bit of effort from me to be willing to do it. A lot of these kids will never forget it. It's honestly a simple thing for me. I love to know that I'm being of service to other people."
