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SPORTS
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2019 • Page 14
BASKETBALL
Local law firm donates funds
to basketball programs
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Two DeKalb County high school basketball programs are
receiving much-needed financial help from a local law firm.
The Law Offices of India Y. Ali has donated more than $10,000
combined to Southwest DeKalb girls’ basketball program and
the basketball programs at W.D. Mohammed High School. The
law firm’s founder, India Ali, is a former player and graduate of
Southwest DeKalb and an assistant coach for the girls’ team. Ali
attends Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam, which is affiliated with W.D.
Mohammed.
Ali said her firm donated to these programs because she
understands the impact funding can have on such programs.
“I know, having been a player and a coach, that it takes funds
to get things done,” she said. “Funding is so necessary. We want to
expose the players to different states and tournaments; that costs
money. We want them to have the best equipment to be able to
compete against teams from different regions and counties—where
there is more money and they have the best equipment, the best
trainers and the best workout regimen. We just want them to be able
to compete and feel good about themselves.”
Ali’s firm donated $3,500 to W.D. Mohammed in addition to
donating money and equity into Southwest DeKalb girls’ basketball
program, including purchasing practice jerseys, workout and medical
equipment, Nike team gear and more.
“Over the past month, I’ve been doing personal training with
[Southwest DeKalb],” she said. “With Southwest, I pledged at the
end of last season [to donate] $5,000 and I’ve exceeded that already.
But I’ve also invested equity because I am a coach there.”
Ali said she is currently conducting a fall training program
at Southwest DeKalb. During a fall scrimmage on Oct. 12, Ali
presented Southwest DeKalb girls’ basketball program an $8,500
check. Coach Kathy Walton said it was the largest donation the
program has received.
Farad Abdur-rahman, athletic director and boys’ basketball
coach at W.D. Mohammed, said he is grateful for Ali’s donation.
“It will help tremendously from a uniform perspective and from
the perspective of getting something for the facilities,” he said.
“Also, this year I’m taking both teams to Beverly Hills, Calif., for a
tournament. So, she’s going to help us subsidize those expenses that
will go toward our trip.”
Ali said her financial support will improve the training regimen
of the programs and help the players compete against tougher teams
in the state and country.
“It’s been four years since [Southwest DeKalb girls’ basketball
team] has been to the championship [game], and we lost in the final
four last year,” Ali said. “So, we’re missing an edge and I think with
the training program that we’ve implemented, as well as some of the
funds and other things, that can take the stress off of the girls and
they can focus on school and basketball.”
“[The funds] are definitely exposing us to a bigger platform and
hopefully we’ll be invited to more [tournaments], but we couldn’t
get it done without people like India and her law firm helping
us, sponsoring us and supporting us,” Abdur-rahman said. “It’s a
beautiful thing from every perspective.”
Ali said she hopes to expand her generosity to other athletic
programs in DeKalb County.
“I am a product of DeKalb County, so I definitely want to be able
to grow within DeKalb County first and get my name out there,” she
said. “I would love to branch out and assist other programs in the
community. It doesn’t have to be basketball.”
W.D. Mohammed High School basketball programs received a $3,500 donation from The Law Offices of India Y. Ali.
W.D. Mohammed High School girls’ basketball players thank India Ali of The Law Offices of India Y. Ali for her
donation to the program. Photos by Carla Parker
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India Ali, left, of The Law Offices of India Y. Ali presented an $8,500 check to Southwest DeKalb girls’ basketball
coach Kathy Walton.
