Leveling the Playing Field

THE INSPIRATION: One day when Shay Patel was 11 years old, he arrived early for basketball practice at his local Boys & Girls Club in Atherton, California. While Shay was dressed in his basketball uniform and athletic shoes, he noticed that many of the other kids shooting hoops were wearing flip-flops or street clothes. One group was using a volleyball instead of a basketball. Shay realized the other kids may not have been able to afford athletic clothes and equipment. The inequality bothered him. “I thought all kids should at least have the basics,” he says. 

THE ACTION: Shay decided to raise money to buy athletic shoes and workout clothes for the kids at the Boys & Girls Club. He started by asking family and friends for donations. Many of his friends and teammates were excited about his cause. “I think helping out people you can relate to is a big thing,” Shay says. He formed a nonprofit organization called Alley-Oop Kids. “An alley-oop is an assist that leads to a dunk,” he explains. “It’s helping someone have a big success.”