by Maurice Bobb / @ReeseReport
The NBA Lockout has every hoops fan up in arms, especially after a season where the excitement and action was at an all-time high thanks to a storybook post season that may have been one of the most engaging in years. Some players are spending their time doing odd jobs, others are all over Twitter planking, owling and all other manner of questionable public interaction, others seek out contracts with the rebound chick—European teams, and then there are those players, like Marquis Daniels, that shift the focus to those that need it most: the less fortunate.
This weekend, Daniels’ Q6 Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on giving back to underprivileged children, will hold its 5th Anniversary Celebrity Foundation Giving Back for Good Weekend in his hometown of Orlando.
“Giving back to my community is one of the most important things in my life,” says Daniels. “Especially here in Orlando. This is the place that helped me get to where I am in life. The lockout is definitely a tough situation, especially with me coming off an injury. But in times like these, we’ve got to stay together as a unit and fight for what is right.”
And since it’s such a great cause, we at SLAM decided to put our hands in the cookie jar and co-host the Winter Wonderland in July event this Saturday night at the Mercedes Benz Lounge at the Amway Center.
Kelly Rowland, ex-member of Destiny’s Child, will also host the event that will bring out such NBA stars as Tony Allen, Josh Howard, Josh Powell, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Rajon Rondo.
“Who else but Kelly Rowland would give everybody ‘motivation’?” says Daniels. “This will be an event you really don’t wanna miss.”
The weekend will begin tonight with the Annual Champions Dinner and Reception at the Peabody Hotel honoring Arizona Cardinals’ Pro Bowler Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Honorary French Consul for Central Florida Brigitte Dagot, Children in Education Manager for the City of Orlando Brenda March and Journalist for the Orlando Sentinel Shannon Owens.
Before Saturday night’s main event, the celebs will take to the field at Edgewater High School for the Celebrity Kickball Challenge.
“When I was growing up, kickball was my favorite thing to do,” says Daniels. “I think it’ll bring the kid back in everybody and the kids will get an opportunity to hit their favorite celebrities with the ball.”
As always, SLAM will be on the red carpet and bring you exclusive pictures of everyone who came out to be seen.
For more information on the Q6 Foundation, please log onto www.Q6foundation.org.
