During the 2008 summer, Comox Valley residents and Scotty Mac Basketball Camp participants donated over 200 pairs of shoes to the Smokey Mountain project in the Philippines. These shoes were shipped over by Scotty Mac Basketball Camps and Comox Valley Youth Basketball Association where they were distributed to Smokey Mountain youth during a christmas party at Young Focus. Some of these kids had never owned a pair of shoes before let alone been able to play basketball in them.
In 2009 inspired by WE International founder Ben Compton and his tireless efforts. The Mackinnon Family decided that they were going to have a basketball Shoot-A-Thon during the 2009 edition of the Scotty Mac Basketball Camps. Our goal was to fund and construct a self sufficient basketball court in the very heart of the Smokey Mountain garbage dump community. The court would provide the youth of Smokey Mountain with a positive social outlet, an opportunity to exercise, and the freedom to just be a kid and play, an idea that many of us take for granted. The court would also serve as part of an effort for WE International Philippines (NGO) to encourage and sponsor students from the dumpsite to abandon their daily work as child scavengers in the dump, and enroll in school. Our partnership in this venture includes Professional Filipino basketball players, Brent International School basketball players, and now participants in the Scotty Mac Basketball Camp.
The idea was to send participants who were interested out into the community to collect donations, in return campers would promise to shoot whatever number of shots the Donor requested.
With small aspirations and goals Scotty Mac Basketball Camp presented this fundraiser on the first day of the summer camp.
To our joy, surprise and beyond any of our imaginations we are elated to report that the Scotty Mac Basketball Camps raised $3200 that will be used to fund this basketball court in Smokey Mountain. It will function as a community centre and social outlet for all youth in Smokey Mountain. WE can not express our gratitude to the Comox Valley for their undeniable generosity. WE are deeply touched by your efforts and contributions.
WE International and Scotty Mac Basketball Camps have just received confirmation from the Barangay of Smokey Mountain that construction of the court has been approved and we can start construction within the next month. Updates, pictures and stories will be shared through this blog.
Again thank you so much for your generous work, donations and help. It was much more than WE ever expected and can WE will never be able to express how much it means to these kids.
Thanks
Scotty Mackinnon
