NBA champion and philanthropist Kyle Kuzma gave a huge gift to his hometown of Flint, Michigan. The 27-year-old announced Wednesday that he was donating $1 million to the Flint YMCA to build a new gymnasium. The new gym will serve as the hub for activities at the Y.
In a statement received by Blavity about his good deed, Kuzma mentioned how much the Y meant to him growing up as a teen in Flint.
“Growing up in Flint, the YMCA was very much my home away from home,” said Kuzma. “It was my safe place. And looking back now, it truly was the birthplace of many of the dreams I had as a young kid. This donation is for the next generation, and it’s my hope this new facility can provide them with the same thing it did for me. A place to dream.”
He was also a guest on Wednesday’s GMA3 and emphasized how much the location nurtured him as a young man and basketball player.
“It was a place I could be safe and just be myself,” he said. “My mom often worked eight or nine hours a day. I would ride the bus super early to get there. I loved being there. Being able to be there all day and play basketball with the older guys in the morning and then my guys later. It really shaped who I am today.”
Like many nonprofits, the Flint YMCA was affected by the pandemic. Unfortunately, the YMCA facility cannot meet many of the city’s needs due to a lack of funding and resources.
The new gym will be a multi-sport facility with the necessary equipment for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball, as well as hosting youth sports camps on weekends and in the summertime.
The new space will be named the “Kyle Kuzma Gymnasium” to honor the gift made by Kuzma and his foundation. In addition, the new gym will boast areas with seating that will allow the facility to host small tournaments.
During his segment on GMA3, Kuzma virtually presented the check to a group of members and staff at the Y.
His mother was on hand as a representative of Kuzma and his foundation to present the check.
She became emotional as she thanked her son for giving back to his community and “being a good person.”
She co-signed his story of spending long hours at the community Y and attributed it to his success as a basketball player, noting that he was always a “good kid” and “never got in trouble.”
YMCA of Greater Flint CEO Shelly Hilton released a statement regarding the impact of Kuzma’s donation.
“This gift is so special, so personal,” she said. “Kyle has done what we hope all kids in our youth programs do – grow, thrive, and reach their dreams. He is a role model for all our kids. Kyle is building a gym where the next generation of youth can have hoop dreams.”
The new facility will break ground in the spring of 2023.
Kuzma became an NBA champ with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.
He is now one of the league’s top players as a power forward for the Washington Wizards.
In 2020, Kuzma founded The Kyle Kuzma Foundation to impact the lives of children, young adults, and families through sports, education, and important life lessons.
Today, the Kyle Kuzma Foundation champions community impact and social reform. Aside from the YMCA, Kuzma and his foundation also support the Los Angeles Children’s Institute.
