FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – The Walter Jordan Future Stars Hoops & Standards Day Camp hosted its inaugural workshops in Fort Wayne in June 2022 at Northrop High School.
Joe Jordan, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne hosted an event at the club’s main facility on Fairfield Avenue recently to celebrate.
Participants thanked sponsors, presented a donation and announced the 2023 program dates. Walter Jordan spoke about the importance of making an impact on those who cross your path throughout your life journey and model positive life standards.
Representatives from the Boys & Girls Club released the following:
This past summer, the educational basketball and life skills experience featured Walter and Joe Jordan, Hall of Fame coach Dan Klein and MVP Basketball director Mitch Sturm as directors. Guest speakers included Joe Jordan of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne, Katie Jackson, head women’s basketball coach at Northrop High School along with Indiana University Star Landon Turner.
Sponsor representatives from Parkview Sports Medicine, Fort Wayne Community Schools and WANE 15 delivered a total donation of over $22,000 as matching checks of about $11,000 each to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne and Impact Our Youth, the Hoops and Standards program run by Walter Jordan. The dollar total represents proceeds from the camp.
Faye Williams-Robbins of FWCS stated 102 of the 150 participants were funded by the school districts GEARUP program. Williams-Robbins stated, “The opportunity to learn life skills and basketball from a former NBA player, his colleagues; local, former and current coaches, is an experience our students don’t often have.”
Tom Antisdel, WANE 15 Vice President and General Manager, noted that his station is “committed to supporting our local community. Teaching the youth of our community leadership skills while having fun on a basketball court is a great way to ensure our leaders of tomorrow have the skills they need for success.”
“Walter (Jordan) has the same commitment to northeast Indiana as Parkview Sports Medicine does, so we were proud to be a part of the camp,” added Tommy Schoegler, VP of Ortho Access and Outreach for Parkview Health.
Walter Jordan in the release stated that “teaching young men and women leadership standards through basketball is my life mission. It is important to speak directly with our youth and model positive life standards.”
Mark Daniels, Superintendent of FWCS, Tommy Schoegler of Parkview Sports Medicine, and Tom Antisdel of WANE 15 spoke at the press event in addition to Walter Jordan and Joe Jordan.
“There are many places kids can learn to navigate a basketball court,” concluded Joe Jordan. “But in this program, with the help of our partners, our young kids learn to navigate life as well.“
The inaugural program was held a year after the publication of Gracefully Broken, a book written by Walter Jordan.
Next year’s program will be held May 30 – June 2, 2023 at Northrop High School. Registration will open on March 13, 2023 at 8:00 am on the registration page.