Category: community

In an exhilarating display of skill and compassion, the annual Ball4Good Celebrity Basketball Game delivered an unforgettable experience, captivating spectators with its electrifying double-overtime showdown. With the final score at an intense 93-90, the Blue Team emerged triumphant over their formidable rivals, the Red Team, in a contest that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.

The Pregame show between the BRUH Mentor and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Upstate youth teams was filled with cheers, baskets, and promising talent. 

However, the real champions of the afternoon were the local organizations supported by Ball4Good, as the charity generously awarded grants to aid various causes close to the community’s hearts. The Project Hope Foundation received a grant for recreational equipment for autistic youth, while The Cleveland Opportunity Foundation was honored with funds to implement its Raising a Reader program. The Period Project received funds to make period packs for local students, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate received a grant for Project SPARK – an academic and fitness initiative. BRUH Mentor was granted funds to empower its mentorship programs, and The BASIC Babies, received funding for a trip to the International African American Museum. These grants will undoubtedly strengthen the invaluable work being done by these organizations, uplifting the lives of those they compassionately serve.

Ball4Good, a local nonprofit organization founded in 2017 by Duke University sophomore and Robertson Scholar Adom Appiah, is crafted around the mission of serving communities through sports. CFLeads CEO, Mary L. Thomas invested in mentoring young Adom who was then enrolled in Kelsea Turner’s 20Time Project at Spartanburg Day School. 

Behind the scenes, the 2023 Ball4Good Celebrity Basketball Game was meticulously organized by a passionate youth grants committee, comprising exceptional high school students guided by insightful college student advisors. At the helm of the committee, 2022 Heisman High School Scholarship National Winner and Grants Chair Cam Srivastava showcased remarkable leadership alongside dedicated members André Nguyen, Anna Beeson, Dominique Quiñonez, Houston Johnson, Mya Ferguson, Noah Hazel, Karter Glymph, Ford Daniels, Trinity Metcalf, and Karl Osei Boateng. Former Grants Committee members turned Advisory Board Members – Karine Nguyen (University of Richmond), Maxwell Booker (Harvard University), Charity Metcalf (Xavier University of Louisiana), Bryce Knight (Wofford College), and Founder Adom Appiah (Duke University) were instrumental in planning the event. Their unwavering dedication and vision played a pivotal role in the game’s success.

Taking center stage was a talented array of celebrity players, including community leaders, academics, and accomplished athletes. Mayor Jerome Rice, a returning player from last year known for his commitment to community progress, hustled up and down the court. Joining him were standout athletes like USC Upstate’s Izzy Geraci, Clemson Running Back Domonique Thomas, and Lander University’s Chandler Lindsey, who skillfully showcased their abilities in support of the cause. The game also featured the participation of distinguished individuals, including Spartanburg’s NAACP President Michael Brown, City Council Member Erica Brown, Converse’s Provost Dr. Joe Wilferth, Wofford’s Provost Dr. Tim Schmitz, and Spartanburg Day School Headmaster, Dave Skeen. The teams were coached by Converse University Athletic Director Jenn Bell and Gaffney Chief of Police Gerald Knight. Spectators followed the friendly battle closely while enjoying tasty concessions provided by United Way of the Piedmont.

Since its inception, the youth-led Ball4Good has supported over 44 organizations through grants and volunteering.  The organization’s unwavering commitment to promoting social good through sports has significantly impacted the local community becoming a driving force for positive change in the region. The annual Celebrity Basketball Game stands as a testament to the power of collective action and the remarkable transformations that can be achieved when communities unite for a common purpose. The event could not have been made possible without the generous support of several sponsors.

As the final buzzer echoed throughout the arena, signaling the Blue Team’s hard-fought victory, the annual Ball4Good Celebrity Basketball Game etched itself into the hearts of all involved. The event’s profound impact will resonate long after the final score, reminding us of the extraordinary power of sports, philanthropy, and community unity. 

Players

Jerome Rice – Mayor of Spartanburg

Dr. Joe Wilferth – Provost, Converse University

Dr. Tim Schmitz – Provost, Wofford College

Honorable Michael Brown – County Council & President of Spartanburg NAACP

Ashley Whitt – Vice President of Grants, Spartanburg County Foundation

Rev. Alan Dyer – First Presbyterian Church

Honorable Erica Brown – City Council

Ryan Langley – Partner, Hodge & Langley

Jay Free – JFree Journey

Jay Stevens – PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)

Vic Durrah – Executive Director, Brothers Restoring Urban Hope

Jamaal Brown – Head Coach, High Point Academy

Isabella Geraci – USC Upstate WBB

Sedrick Posey – Chef and Owner, PuddN’

Dave Skeen – Headmaster, Spartanburg Day School

Greg Embry – Finance Professional

Chris Hollis – Counselor

Domonique Thomas – Running Back, Clemson Football

Tra Staggs – Lander University MBB

Hoyt Bynum – Senior Nonprofit Executive and Character Coach

Dr. Kofi Appiah – Spartanburg Nephrology Associates

Liz Evans – Development Director Play Advocate Live Well (PAL) 

Son of Ice – Founder, The Sound of Learning

David Fields aka DJ Cool Dave

Xavier McKnight – Youth Advocate

Jervay Galberth – Founder, We Care 4 You

Charles Richard – Sewanee MBB

Brittany Mack – Southern Wesleyan WBB

Chandler Lindsey – Lander MBB

Karl Osei Boateng – Ball4Good Volunteer Coordinator

Coaches

Blue Team – Gerald Knight – Chief of Police, Gaffney

Red Team – Jenn Bell – Athletic Director, Converse University

Referees

Bryce Knight – Wofford College, Ball4Good Advisory Board

Leo Carter – Spartanburg Methodist College, Player in 2022 Ball4Good Celebrity Basketball Game

Planning Committee

• Adom Appiah
• Karine Nguyen
• Maxwell Booker
• Charity Metcalf
• Bryce Knight
• Houston Johnson
• Cam Srivastava
• Dominique Quinonez
• Andre Nguyen
• Karter Glymph
• Anna Beeson
• Noah Hazel
• Mya Feguson
• Ford Daniels
• Trinity Metcalf
• Karl Osei Boateng

Volunteers

• Sheryl Booker
• Dr. Duckett
• Shre Srivastava
• Caitlin Hazel
• Charles Blue

Master of Ceremonies

Adom Appiah – Duke University, Founder, Ball4Good

Cheerleaders

BASIC Babies, Spartanburg

Marjorie Boafo Appiah – Agent, Ball4Good 

Hope Blackley – Former Clerk of Court and Owner of Hope Consulting

To learn more, visit www.ball4good.org

Ball4Good is happy to announce that four organizations will be honored at the 2023 Celebrity Basketball Game.

Our beneficiaries are Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate, Cleveland Opportunity Foundation, Project Hope Foundation, and The Period Project. 

The projects to be funded are as follows:

Big Brothers Big Sisters — Project SPARK — Sporting (S), Physical Fitness (P) Academic (A), and Recreational (R) Events for Kids (K).

Cleveland Opportunity Foundation — Raising a Reader Program — Giving bags with books to students each week so that they can take them home and read with their parents.

Project Hope Foundation — Playground of outdoor exercise and recreational equipment for autistic youth and young adults served at Spartanburg campus — Ball4Good will fund the purchase of adult-sized swing sets to stimulate needed sensory input.

The Period Project — Back to School Bash — Period Packs for Spartanburg Students

This year, the game will take place on July 16th at 4 p.m. at Spartanburg Day School’s Webster Athletic Complex.

PLEASE PURCHASE A TICKET OR DONATE HERE.