Philanthropic Work
During his playing career, Thomas paid college tuition for more than 75 youngsters. When he was a Piston, in 1987 Thomas organized the “No Crime Day” in Detroit. He even had the help of Detroit Mayor Coleman Young to call for a moratorium on crime in the summer of 1986.
Thomas founded Mary’s Court, a foundation that supports economically disadvantaged parents and children in the communities of Garfield Park and Lawndale on the West Side of Chicago. The charity is named for Thomas’s mother, who he credits with instilling in him the importance of hard work and giving back to the community. Mary’s Court has teamed up with another Chicago-based charity, Kids off the Block, to serve meals to Chicago children and families during Thanksgiving. While at FIU, Thomas and Mary’s Court donated $50,000 to FIU’s First Generation Scholarship and organized a sell-out charity game during the NBA lockout featuring NBA stars LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, with proceeds benefiting Mary’s Court. A street on Chicago’s West Side was named in honor of his mother.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boys & Girls Club of Chicago recognized Thomas’ philanthropic work in March 2012 and honored him with the organization’s King Legacy Award at their 24th Annual King Legacy Awards Gala. The award is given annually to individuals who have fostered the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through their community contributions.
In July 2012, Thomas joined the The Black Men's Roundtable in Florida along with other national and local black leaders to discuss issues that directly impact black males.
In September 2012, Thomas co-hosted the Ballin for Peace Tournament at St. Sabina Church in Chicago, IL. Thomas came together with Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Quentin Richardson, Zach Randolph, the Chicago Bears’ J’Marcus Webb, pastor Michael Pfleger, and others to throw this event in order to reduce gang violence through communication and basketball. Thomas also stressed the value of education for those in poverty.
Read more about this topic: Isiah Thomas
Famous quotes containing the word work:
“Human life itself may be almost pure chaos, but the work of the artist—the only thing he’s good for—is to take these handfuls of confusion and disparate things, things that seem to be irreconcilable, and put them together in a frame to give them some kind of shape and meaning. Even if it’s only his view of a meaning. That’s what he’s for—to give his view of life.”
—Katherine Anne Porter (1890–1980)