Dwight Howard’s Mission to Change Lives Travels to the United Republic of Tanzania
Via W&W Public Relations:
Several NBA stars have accomplished much in the philanthropic realm, but very few have set out to accomplish the mission and vision of the Orlando Magic’s power center Dwight Howard. On August 15-22, 2011, the worldwide mission of the D12 Foundation was furthered when Dwight and foundation executives traveled to the United Republic of Tanzania. His travels in Tanzania were to continue his tireless efforts to promote education as a vehicle for economic and social development success among young boys and girls around the world, particularly for the poorest nations around the globe.
During his week-long stay, Dwight visited the Kipok Secondary School in the Monduli region and the Lunguya Secondary School in Shinyanga to donate more than $80K for their educational efforts. Dwight’s donation will assist in building a dormitory on the grounds of each school so that the young girls are able to live on the school’s campus. By living on campus, it will ensure that the students have three meals a day and will help to keep the young girls safe from any danger, including potentially being raped, as they will no longer have to walk more than three kilometers to school. Other needs in this region include additional schools, classrooms, teachers and computer labs. The Secondary Schools also in need of 84 dormitories, of which only 20 are available at this time, leaving a shortage of 64. The presence of dormitories increases retention of the young girls and boys and as a result increases completion rates and improves academic performance.
While in Tanzania, Dwight also visited the International School of Tanganyika Secondary School Campus in Dar es Salaam to interact with the American and foreign students who attend. At the school, Dwight taught basketball skills, fielded questions about his life and career and gave a motivational speech to inspire students to reach for their goals, dream big and shared how hard work and persistence are a formula for success.
With his efforts, Dwight demonstrates one of the most impressive qualities of a successful individual: the determination to use his social standing as a means to initiate and affect change. Dwight operates mainly under the umbrella of his very effective D12 Foundation, as he continues to solidify it’s presence as a world changing entity. The Foundation maintains four pillars during its missions: (1) to sow seeds of generosity; (2) to further education; (3) to champion leadership; and (4) to instigate activity and health among young people.
Dwight and the D12 Foundation have lived up to their creed by remaining consistent in responding to the call for help. During the catastrophic events in Haiti in early 2010, the D12 Foundation began a program initially for sports and recreation to help alleviate some of the pain of traumatized children that eventually remained as a source of health care and educational development. Howard makes a point to support each program and project not only monetarily but also personally.
His 6’11” stature certainly came in handy when hanging light fixtures and removing paneling, as he helped rebuild houses for Alabamans whose homes were destroyed by the deadly April 2011 tornadoes. Dwight was also named as a Celebrity Ambassador for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Start Something Campaign and recently recorded a PSA for the 2011 Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Telethon to encourage people to give.
Dwight and his D12 Foundation are determined to bring about change in both American and international communities, one day at a time. To learn more about the D12 Foundation & their efforts, log onto www.d12foundation.org.
