NBA All-Star Billups partners with Coach Porter to benefit at-risk youth
Justin Goldman, Staff Reporter
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On Wednesday night, March 1, Chauncey Billups returned to his native city of Denver for a contest between his league-leading Detroit Pistons and the surging Nuggets. Despite his performance with a team high 27 points and eight rebounds, the Nuggets prevailed, 98-87. Billups displayed floor leadership, dishing out eight assists, leading the Pistons in minutes played and committing just one turnover. But perhaps the most impressive of Mr. Billups' actions that day occurred after the Pistons' shoot-around that afternoon.
The NBA All-Star announced he would be partnering with Regis University men's basketball coach Lonnie Porter to build upon the success of the Porter Leadership Academy. Since its inception in 1996, the program has continued expose high-achieving, at-risk Denver youth to a college environment in a unique way. Students in the academy, grades 8 to 12, commit to attending the academy for three weeks each summer. The program is free to youths, and students receive training in leadership, teamwork, conflict resolution, technology, and communication skills. In 2005, the academy helped 120 students.
The presence of Billups will allow the program, now called the Porter Billups Leadership Academy at Regis University, to grow in scope. Billups said, "I just want to take it to a different level. This is not something that just my name is on. I'm committed to this." He also indicated his interest in being involved with a program that has nothing to do with the basketball court. He expressed that, "One of the biggest things about it was that it was not about sports. It's about life. It's not about basketball."
Billups has made a personal gift of $100,000 to the academy and will work with Coach Porter to attract other gifts. Additionally, Billups is actively involved in a celebrity golf tournament and auction to benefit the academy endowment fund. The tournament, which will be held at the Cherry Creek Country Club on July 9-10, 2006, has received verbal commitments ranging from Nuggets General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe to recently retired New York Knick Allan Houston.
Mr. Billups expressed how the academy provides him an excellent opportunity to have a positive impact. "This is about life," Billups said. "It's about academics. It's about the things that really matter. And that's the thing I'm the most proud of." Although he is based in Detroit, Billups keeps strong bonds to Denver. "Everybody knows the pride I have in my city and my neighborhood," Billups said. "This is a way to give back, show these kids some hope and make sure they have a chance at a proper education, mentorship, and tutoring." Coach Porter commented that there is not a harder worker than Billups. The future of the Porter Billups Leadership Academy at Regis University looks extremely bright.