During the most recent Final Four basketball championship games, Wilson and the NCAA partnered to donate 13,000 brand new uniforms to a wide array of youth organizations, church leagues and school programs in Detroit and St. Louis. Working closely with community members in host cities to identify where the need was greatest, Wilson and the NCAA made sure the uniforms found their way into the lives of kids who would benefit the most.
Over the course of the weekend, Wilson and NCAA officials saw firsthand how new uniforms can impact young lives. Numerous coaches and community leaders said that in addition to adding cohesion and a sense of pride, the new uniforms literally helped breathe new life into the teams' abilities to continue playing.
“Youth sport teams wearing brightly-colored uniforms are a sure sign of a community that works,” said Dan Varner, CEO Think Detroit PAL. “For a 12-year-old, days when he or she gets to put on a brand new uniform and take the court are like group hugs from the community. The amount of pride our kids have experienced as a result of this gift is something that you can't put a price on.”
