WASHINGTON — To help kids start the year on the right foot, Washington Wizards all-star John Wall gave hundreds of D.C. students backpacks, school supplies and encouragement on Saturday.
“Just to be a successful woman or man in this world you always want to have an education or degree to fall back on, so that’s one of the most important things I want to do and preach to these kids,” Wall said.
Wall was joined by 300 students in grades three through eight at the Boys and Girls Club in Southeast. The Wizards point guard gave each student a snazzy-looking black-and-grey backpack filled with pens, pencils, notebooks and folders.
“These kids might be excited to see me but I’m more excited to see them,” Wall said. “They put a bigger smile on my face.”
In a festive atmosphere, with party music thumping, the kids were pretty ecstatic. “I really love basketball, it was really cool to see him,” said David, a rising eighth grader who’s home-schooled.
David said he’s looking forward to “learning new stuff’ in the new school year.
Heather Lee, a rising sixth grader at Stuart Hobson Middle School, also received a backpack.
“What I like about school is that you can learn and you can still have fun,” said Heather, who took a picture with the basketball star.
“I like math the most,” Heather said.
On Friday, Wall handed out backpacks and school supplies to kids in his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina.
“I love playing the game of basketball, but whenever I can put smiles on these families’ faces it takes some of the pressure off some of the parents who don’t have to buy backpacks and school supplies,” Wall said.
It’s the second straight year that Wall has gifted hundreds of kids with school supplies.
“I want to give back to kids and familes that are less fortunate, I’ve been in that situation before,” Wall said.
Wall, 25, was raised by his mother after his father died of liver cancer. Wall was only 9 at the time.
“I always want to just have a legacy and be a great role model,” Wall said.
