Today I packed up some volleyballs to send to the deserving programs of the Special Olympics in Jamaica and to coach Wiyaka Chasing Hawk, who is making volleyball happen for kids on the reservation at the Cheyenne River Project in Eagle Butte, S.D.
These donated balls came from the USA Junior Olympic Volleyball Championships, where we have asked teams to “leave a ball behind” at the end of their season so we can gift them for teams in need. Thousands of balls have come from the courts at JOs, collected by the officials working the tournament (thanks Sue Mailhot et al.), which then get boxed and put on the truck and delivered to USA Volleyball’s grassroots department.
As I flattened the balls into odd looking taco shapes, the names of hundreds of kids who signed the balls for good luck to the recipients made me smile. Team names are on the balls too. Rockworld Thunder… Texas Power 18… Gainesville Athletic Club…Stellar… Munciana, Stingray “Bronze Champion” … were just a few of those I read as I boxed them up.
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John Kessel: The Leave a Ball Behind Program Impact
John Kessel: The Leave a Ball Behind Program Impact
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