2K Foundations has revealed their latest court renovation project in Toronto, Canada, at the Lawrence Heights Community Centre. The revamped court was created in partnership with the City of Toronto and global artists The Weeknd and Nav, featuring a unique art installation by award-winning multi-disciplinary artist Ben Johnston, along with a new scoreboard, backboards and overall repairs.
2K Foundations additionally announced various international projects and program expansions that have been underway throughout the past year. Since 2020, the organization has collaborated with local communities from the Dominican Republic to Birmingham, U.K, and grown beyond basketball to increase access to other pursuits, including golf, music and the arts.
Throughout 2020-2021, 2K Foundations has grown its efforts to support a number of projects, representing communities around the globe and showcasing the program’s expansion to include career and learning initiatives, expanded access to sports through golf clinics and tournaments, community enrichment opportunities through music and upgraded studios, and much more:
Cal Johnson Park Court, Knoxville, Tenn. – Refurbished two basketball courts designed in partnership with Chicago Sky forward Candace Parker and artist Erin Miller Wray that opened October 2020, and earned a Keep Knoxville Beautiful Orchid Award for Public Art
Elencio Mercedes Sports Arena Court, Dominican Republic – Done in partnership with Boston Celtics power forward Al Horford, this new court is currently being installed and painted with the colors of the Dominican Republic flag
Nechells Wellbeing Center, Birmingham, UK – Partnered with the City of Birmingham Rockets Basketball Club, whose club ambassador is former NBA player Hakeem Olajuwon, to renovate the current facilities and enable them to offer more community projects. It is the largest basketball club in Birmingham and delivers over 80 hours of basketball sessions to over 800 youths each week in an ethnically-rich community, but underserved area of the UK
Urban Ventures and First Tee, Minneapolis, Minn. – Introduced a brand-new program from 2K Foundations that looks to expose the game of golf to more Black and female youth in the area. The program provides green fees, lesson fees, and equipment to these minority groups to help them get exposed to career paths that may not have existed before
Ace Kids Golf, Oakland, Calif. – 2K Foundations provided an opportunity for Ace Kids Golf to create its first-ever golf tournament in March 2021, with a second tournament that took place this past month;
Dryades YMCA, New Orleans, La. – Partnered with local youth art organization, YAYA, to create a music program with a mentor artist and young artist in training, as well as create a music lounge for youth, which includes a recording studio, instruments, and mixing equipment for them to create their own music. The program has also expanded to hosting art workshops for local youth that take place in the brand-new Dryades garden, providing a safe and creative outlet for students, with more support planned later this year.
