Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes is giving $195,000 to his former school district in Ames, Iowa. The donation will go toward making renovations around the facility, including a video board, upgraded scoreboard, floor-mounted NBA baskets, upgraded lights, and additional student bleachers. Barnes mentioned how important a quality gym was in his athletic journey, and how much he wished the same for current day students:
Growing up, I always felt that we had one of the best gyms in the state of Iowa not only to play games in, but to have practices and school events in. Hopefully the kids that will be using this facility now will find it the same way; hopefully they’ll feel special that they have a great facility and they’ll enjoy it.
This latest act of generosity from the Barnes family is just one of many over the last several years, including a $40,000 donation to fund groceries for at-risk Sacramento families just a couple of weeks ago. These last two acts of charity may carry even ore weight than usual, as last Friday marked the first date in which NBA players gave up 25% of their salaries to help lessen the blow of the league shutdown, with Harrison losing approximately $250,000 out of his May 15th paycheck.
No matter what may be said about Barnes’ contract with the team or his play on the floor, his off-court locker room and community leadership have been essential for this team over the past couple of seasons.
Barnes is a class act. I’m glad he is a King.
Absolutely; great guy.
I am just disappointed that for someone so unselfish he did not ask for a smaller contract.
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