Arenas And Magic Assist Homeless Families

Published by Rashad Mobley on September 17, 2008

For three days in 1989, when Gilbert Arenas Jr. was just seven-years-old, he and his father were homeless. Gilbert Arenas Sr. was an aspiring actor who had just recently gained custody of his son, but had yet to find a job. During the day father and son slept in a car in a local park, and by night, they slept in that same car in a drugstore parking lot.

Nearly 20 years later, Arenas, now a successful guard for the Washington Wizards and a high profile athlete, is in the position to do something about the growing number of homeless families in Washington, D.C.

Over the weekend Arenas, along with former Los Angeles Lakers great Earvin “Magic” Johnson, joined with Freddie Mac for their Hoops for the Homeless Tournament at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

Johnson hosted the event while Arenas coached one of the basketball teams which consisted of local celebrities.

The event raised more than $600,000 for six D.C. area non profits, and the importance of this was not lost on Arenas.

“Homelessness is a first hand experience for me. I want children to grow up in a safe and happy environment and I want all families to be able to overcome hardships and get back on their feet and into a home of their own, much like my father did for me. Freddie Mac’s Hoops for the Homeless is a wonderful event, and I am excited to be back again this year to help fight family homelessness.”

Since retiring from the NBA in 1995, Johnson has dedicated his life to community service via the Magic Johnson Foundation. He has opened movie theaters, shopping centers and helped to bring the Starbucks franchise to urban communities.

Johnson felt so strongly about this particular event, that he decided to host it for the third year in a row:

“I am thrilled to be back again this year to support Freddie Mac’s Hoops for the Homeless. As someone who is deeply committed to helping create brighter futures for children and families, I am especially proud to be part of this important and needed event.”

For more information on Freddie Mac’s Hoops for the Homeless program click here .

This article was written by:

Rashad Mobley - who has written 77 posts on Hoops Addict.

Rashad Mobley graduated with a B.S. in English Education, from Hampton University in Hampton, VA in 1996. He is a government consultant for the Department of Justice in Washington D.C., where he currently resides. Rashad will be covering the Washington Wizards for HoopsAddict.com during the upcoming NBA season.

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