As humans, we have a lot of physiological needs. Food, water, and air, to name a few. Ask anyone at Baden Sports and we’d say “play” is amongst those needs. Play gives everyone the ability to use their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional muscles. Additionally, it teaches us how to work in groups, to share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts, and to learn self-advocacy skills. When it comes to encouraging play, you need a “vehicle” or something physical to drive it. Insert the ball.
It All Starts with a Ball – A Baden Sports and Harlem Globetrotters Initiative
The ball is a medium that brings people together and allows them to celebrate, laugh, learn and play. Another organization synonymous with play is the Harlem Globetrotters. The Globetrotters represent 90-plus years of breaking down barriers, acts of goodwill and a commitment to fans that goes beyond the game. One of those commitments is to give kids the opportunity to play. Known for their incredible ball handling skills and amazing trick shots, the Harlem Globetrotters know all about the importance of the ball.
Like the Globetrotters, Baden Sports has set out to create products, such as basketballs, that honor the importance of sports within individuals and communities. With the goal to inspire play in all that we do. For over thirty years, we have partnered with the Harlem Globetrotters by supplying all the game balls and merchandise basketballs. As a part of the most recent partnership, Baden Sports and the Harlem Globetrotters created the "It All Starts With a Ball" Campaign, where Baden Sports and the Harlem Globetrotters donate a basketball for every Harlem Globetrotters Replica Basketball sold at shows or online. Together, Baden and the Harlem Globetrotters donated more than 2,000 basketballs to community organizations in need during the campaign.
While touring North America last spring, Cherelle George, better known as Torch, was in Seattle and toured the Baden Sports Headquarters. Not only did she get a tour of the entire facility, which includes our Axe Bats product line, she also helped our team deliver a donation of over one hundred balls to Treehouse, a Seattle based non-profit. Treehouse strives to create an environment where every child that has experienced foster care has the opportunities and support they need to pursue their dreams and launch successfully into adulthood.
While at Treehouse, Torch shared her story and told those in attendance what an important role the ball has played in her life. “I’ve been playing basketball since I was four years old. I woke up Christmas morning and my mom bought me a basketball and a Fisher Price hoop. I remember at the age of four dribbling everywhere I went. Since that day my life has changed in a tremendously positive way… it’s taken me to thirty-three countries in two years, I was able to get a college degree at Purdue University for free because of a basketball.” Torch’s story is one of many that showcase the power of a ball.
Both the Harlem Globetrotters and Baden Sports acknowledge the importance of play and want to give everyone access to a ball and an opportunity to play.
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