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politics when he has felt it’s needed. A month before
the Iraq war started, for example, Nash wore a T-shirt
on the court that said, ‘‘No War Shoot for Peace.”
At the time, such sentiment wasn’t fashionable, and
expressing political views often can lead to fallout from
fans and sponsors. Nash, however, had no reservations
about sharing his thoughts. “I never want to put my
self on a soapbox all the time because that can wear
thin on the public,” he says. “But I also need to be my
self. I did that because I felt it was an important time
in this world, and the general public should examine
the issues.”
Today, his unique
worldview still guides
him. Nash’s founda
tion touches people
all around the world,
from Phoenix (where
he plays for the Suns)
to Canada (where he
was raised) to Para
guay (where his wife,
Alejandra, hails from).
Just recently Nash
headed out to China
to launch an all-star
game and fundraiser
with Yao Ming of the
Houston Rockets. Together the two
raised $2.5 million to improve edu- i
cational resources in poor rural com- |
munities there.
Other Nash activities include sup- 1
porting AIDS awareness efforts in
Vancouver; meeting with cancer pa- 1
dents in New York before a Suns/Knicks
game; refurbishing basketball courts for
young people in Phoenix; and a fundraising
campaign for Hospital de Clinicas in Asuncion, Para
guay, one of that country’s oldest hospitals. Nash took
special interest in the hospital after he heard some
heartbreaking stories about child care there through
his wife and her friends.
“We found out about a little boy there who needed
heart surgery as a newborn but they simply didn’t
have the equipment to do it,” Nash says. “My wife has
a friend who works in the hospital who told us that she
saw another baby there turning blue. She asked why
the baby wasn’t in an incubator. They told her that there
were only two incubators, and they were occupied by
babies who had a better chance to live. It’s amazing
that the things we take for granted here amount to a
dream over there.”
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DWYANE WADE:
Youth will be served
Wade has never given in to lowered ex
pectations. In high school, he was re
cruited by just three colleges and ended
up at Marquette, where, in 2003, he led
the team to the Final Four for the first
time since 1977. Then, when he turned
pro, he was overshadowed within a draft
class that included Carmelo Anthony and
Leßron James. Even still, Wade led the
Miami Heat to its first NBA champion
ship ever in just his third year, when he
won the Finals MVP award.
Given his inclination to challenge
expectations, it’s not surprising that
Wade takes the
same approach
to giving back.
Philanthropic
minded athletes
V typically launch am
bitious foundations in
the middle or late stages of
their careers. But Wade launched
his, Wade’s World Foundation, in
his rookie year.
“I just liked the sound of the
name,” he says, in a playful mood.
“ ‘Wade’s World! Wade’s World!’
Just like the two guys in the movie
Wayne’s World.”
Giving back is something he
always has felt destined to do
Our two Most Caring Athletes
go head-to-head for Miami
and Phoenix.
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“When I \
got Christmas
presents, I’d
give them away
that week.”
since he was a kid growing up in
Robbins, DL “When I got Christ
mas presents, I’d give them away
that week,” he says. “I’d get a
lot of clothing and shoes, and I’d
be like, ‘I already have lots of clothes and shoes.’ So
we’d find a shelter and drop them off”
When he got to the pros, he was eager to make an
even greater impact. Wade’s World hosts an annual,
week-long free summer camp for 600 kids in Robbins.
It also stages an annual Christmas party for 250 chil
dren in South Florida at a local amusement park. And
after the Heat won the championship in 2006, Wade
chartered two buses from Miami to take 100 local chil
dren to Disney World for free. He partnered with Staples
on a park improvement program in South Florida. And,
this past winter holiday, he donated shoes and clothes
to Katrina victims.
It doesn’t hurt that Wade happens to have played
with two Heat stars who also are well-known for their
outpouring of community work: Shaquille O’Neal and
Alonzo Mourning. Both are past USA WEEKEND
Most Caring Athletes (O’Neal
in 2005 and Mourning in 2001),
and both of them have offered
lots of good advice to their young
teammate. The main lesson: Be
true to yourself and the foun
dation will grow.
“I’m so lucky to have them
around,” Wade says. “They’re
happy to share what they know
with me. They told me, ‘Don’t
do something because you feel
obligated. You have to feel it in
your heart.’ That’s really like
having a blueprint for my foun
dation, right there in the locker
room.” ca
For more information or
to contribute to the foundations
of Wade and Nash, go to
dwyanewade.com and
stevenash.org.
USA WEEKEND • Oct 12-14,2007
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