Aaron Gordon is arguably the most well-known player on the Orlando Magic currently. From co-starring in a big screen film to competing and basically winning (in many people’s eyes including my own) in the 2016 NBA All-Star dunk contest to his just all-around freak athleticism and basketball IQ. Some might assume he might slow down or just focus on his NBA career and growth. That assumption would be insanely incorrect. As one of the many people that stays tuned in to NBA players’ work outside of their NBA careers, I’ve found that I have an ever-growing respect for the NBA organization and its’ players and their outstanding character their motivation to achieve things beyond their NBA career goals and aspirations.
I recently came across the “Gordon Family Giving Foundation (GF2)” page and after reading about all of the programs and events GF2 has accomplished, it only further deepened my respect for not just his NBA career and accomplishments but also for the work him and his family have accomplished with GF2. While I admit, I’ve felt my heart “skip a beat” during many Orlando Magic games, its reading and learning about foundations such as GF2 that really yank on my heart strings.
Code Orlando is a program that “fueled and facilitated” by Aaron. The Code Orlando program states on its main page, “Code Orlando is a program designed to inspire and teach young, underserved minority and female students about technology so that they are more likely to pursue education and careers in the fascinating and critical world of technology (gf2.co/).
Further, the site states that the program also puts an emphasis on life skills such as “teamwork, mindfulness, and public speaking.” Currently, the Code Orlando program is running a month long “Intensive Tech Immersive” program where participants will get the opportunity to work on coding and other related skills. In addition, participants visit nearby colleges and tech companies that are actively using and developing technology to “help people and our planet.” During this program, they also receive instruction from Aaron himself. Some of the program’s main goals include helping to reduce summer learning deficit and encourage interest in entering the ever-developing tech field (gf2.co/). To think at what this younger generation and those to come could do with these skills, is enough to ignite inspiration in anyone.
In addition to the Code Orlando Aaron and his family also basketball camps and clinics in the Orlando, FL area and Bay area in northern California. The camps and clinics are also free of charge for kids who would otherwise most likely not be able to participate (gf2.co/).
Aaron and his family have also hosted twenty kids and their families for a shopping spree at stores Nike and the Gap in San Jose, CA through the My New Red Shoes program. The kids were able to do back to school shopping and leave with confidence, feeling prepared in their brand-new clothes and shoes (gf2.co/).
In December 2018, GF2 hosted a Facebook Sphero event. Students at the OCPS ACE Academy (a community partner school) were surprised with a visit from Aaron and a hands-on robotics programming experience. GF2 fully funded the program to be taught throughout the year and also provided funding for any necessary equipment. In a video documenting video clips and pictures from the event Aaron stated, “Some of these kids don’t even believe or see that they can be something greater, you know? So just giving them opportunities to see that they have potential for so many things in life.” With this program Aaron and GF2 seek to spark “innovation and creativity.” And at end of the vide, what really hit it home for me was a quote from Aaron at the end saying, “I just want kids who are under privileged to have the same opportunity that everybody else has” (gf2.co/).
In addition to these events and programs I talked about, there are still more that GF2 has hosted that are detailed on the foundations site!
With the perception that the Orlando Magic organization seems to be “locking in” on talent such as Aaron himself and investing in his strength and “sky is the limit” growth potential, I’m sure I’m one of many that is excited to see what this season brings for Aaron and the Magic. Like many, I feel like I’m still riding out the almost euphoric feeling I felt watching them compete in the recent playoff round against the eventual champs, Toronto Raptors. Rivaling that “euphoric” feeling, the inspiration and warmth I felt watching the kids react to these opportunities they were given through GF2’s foundation, kicked that feeling to the curb.
Don’t get me wrong, I can still recall and even feel the excitement I felt watching the Magic make its return to the playoffs, but the inspiration and motivation Aaron and the Gordon Family Giving Foundation have and are instilling in not just its participants and youth but people like myself, it’s enough for me to completely forget about that “euphoric” feeling and really think, “What can I do to inspire and motivate?” What can I do to make sure that ALL kids have the opportunity to be creative and change the world?
The questions that I asked myself after stopping and processing everything I had learned about GF2, are questions that are a direct outcome of seeing the work that Aaron and his family as well as SO many other NBA players are working at as well.
So, what are WE going to do?
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