Wade helps bring cash, happiness to Lauderhill kids

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade took his first two shots since undergoing shoulder and knee surgery in the spring.His first effort glanced off the backboard and rim, but his second shot found its mark, much to the delight of the more than 200 community members, VIPs and guests who attended a check presentation last month at Lauderhill's City Hall Park.It was one of several lighthearted moments for the NBA star, who teamed up with Staples Inc. to present a $25,000 check to the city of Lauderhill as part of the Staples Dream Park Challenge with D-Wade. Wade quipped that the city voted more for him than the city's mayor, Richard Kaplan, then tossed out souvenirs to children from the Lauderhill Boys & Girls Club.
City Hall Park received the most votes (110,000 of about 250,000 votes cast), and received the grand prize for a park makeover. The other 13 parks received $2,500 each for improvements. Wade said that as he grew up in Chicago, he developed his game on outdoor courts such as the ones in Lauderhill. Wade said he didn't have the opportunity to play inside a gym in Chicago."It is very important to give back to local parks," Wade said. "That is the foundation for what I do in the NBA. "This is where it comes from, playing out here in the open parks on hot, sunny days when you don't have any water or nothing and you are just out here playing for the love of the game."Wade said children move him when he makes appearances such as this."I love to play basketball, but I also love to see smiles on the kids' faces," Wade said. "I love to see hope and opportunity in them. I grew up in the inner city and grew up in a poor neighborhood so I was one of those guys who wanted to have someone come back and touch my neighborhood.""This is the No. 1 thing to happen to the city since I have been here," said Irvin Kiffin, Lauderhill's Parks and Leisure Services director for the past 10 years. "Dwyane is an outstanding individual and for him and Staples to do something for the community is huge."A day like today is very important," added Kiffin, who said the money went to resurfacing the basketball courts, work on the playground and some work on the athletic fields. "Not only are they coming here to see Dwyane Wade, but it is bringing the community together, which is a wonderful thing. Image is everything at the park. We have a beautiful basketball court and then the word will get out that Dwyane Wade was here and that is good positive feedback."Wade's appearance left quite an impression with the crowd, which included 15-year-old Rashida Gayle, who along with her sister, Shari, gave him a scroll inscribed with a quote from Aristotle. They also had lunch with Wade and other VIPs."It is amazing that he came here," Rashida said. "I don't think anybody else who would have come would have affected me as much as him because I am not a big fan of the Heat, but I am a big fan of his because he is so humble and his personality alone. He didn't frown when he was on the stage. All he did was smile."