NBA star Gallinari visits Laureus project in his Denver Nuggets hometown

At 6 ft 10 in, Italian basketball star Danilo Gallinari towered over the young people he met at a Laureus-supported project in Denver earlier this week. But when it came to understanding how great sport can be in giving young people hope in life everyone was on the same level.

Gallinari, a Laureus Ambassador and player for NBA team Denver Nuggets, was meeting young people to play some sports exercises at a school in Adams County School District 50.

This district has the largest homeless population in the Greater Denver Area, where children lack access to quality afterschool sports.

That’s why Laureus, along with Danilo and Mercedes-Benz USA, visited Sunset Ridge Elementary School, to announce the support of the training and placement of CAA coaches in afterschool sports programs throughout Adams County School District 50.

As well as playing some sports with the young people, Danilo also took part in a Q and A session, in which he offered some words following his life in sport.

Danilo said: “ Sports are very, very important.  Since I was a little kid my parents always taught me to keep sports and studying in school together so these two things can live together to allow you to be a better person and a better player.

“It is great to be here supporting this program and Laureus is doing a great job.”

Adams County School District 50 has 19 schools with 80 percent diversity in the student population.   As a result of this partnership, this program will provide youth with a safe haven from issues such as violence and an opportunity for children to learn and develop their interest in tennis and soccer.