Projo Sports Blog

By Jonathan Okanes
Contra Costa Times

OAKLAND, Calif. - With each new chapter, Leon Powe's story just keeps getting more uplifting.

Powe, who overcame an impossibly challenging upbringing in Oakland to become an All-American basketball player at Cal and now a key reserve for the world champion Boston Celtics, continues to demonstrate a personality that seems rare for somebody with his background. His latest achievement is "Fresh Start Family Services," a mentoring program for foster children.

"Sometimes they need that extra attention," said Powe, who makes his one Bay Area appearance of the season tonight when the Celtics visit the Warriors. "Sometimes they feel like nobody out there really cares about them. We want to take a special interest and have them know we want them to succeed. We're trying to help them help themselves, but we're really trying to help them, too."

Powe's plight is well-known in Oakland and the surrounding communities. His father walked out on his family when he was 2 and he bounced around to different foster homes and homeless shelters throughout most of his childhood after his younger brother, Tim, accidentally burned the family's home down while playing with matches.

Powe also lost his mother, Connie Landry, just days before his Oakland Tech High School team was to play in the state championship. Then he had to overcome two major reconstructive knee surgeries to make it to the NBA.

All along, Powe has somehow retained a positive demeanor and a responsibility to give back to a community that essentially saved his life. One of those people is Bernard Ward, a former high school basketball star himself who overcame drug problems during his younger years and now does social work in the community. Ward rescued Powe from the streets and became his unofficial guardian and mentor.

"Bernard and Leon had this idea that they wanted to give something back to the community and the kids," said Fresh Start consultant Craig Barton, who has been the division director at Alternative Family Services, a foster and adoption agency, for 16 years. "They came in here one day and I could see they were serious about doing something. We started talking and planning and then it evolved into bringing it all together."

Alternative Family Services invited Fresh Start to share their Oakland office, with the blessing of AFS executive director Jay Berlin. Fresh Start has been busy getting funding and recruiting mentors and hopes to start with a group of about 10 kids ages 14-21.

Fresh Start will provide vocational and educational mentors with the hope of developing productive members in the community.

"We're just trying to help kids, help them get a better opportunity," Powe said. "If you have that extra support like I had - it really helped me out a lot. If more people go out of their way to help them, they'll want to help themselves, too."

Powe's inkling for charity goes back to his days at Cal. After being named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, he sat out the following season after undergoing his second knee surgery. While away from the game, he started speaking to elementary school children and other community functions.

He's also held free basketball camps and done other philanthropic work in the Boston area.

"I always wanted to do something like this," Powe said. "When I was younger, I told Bernard I always wanted to do something to help kids. I just didn't know what or how to put it together. I got a little older and we really started to see things come to life."

Powe's stature as an NBA player will allow him to provide financial support for the program as well. Ward said once Fresh Start is up and running, Powe wants to provide the funds for whatever is deemed necessary to succeed.

"I had to tell Leon not to spend all this money right away," Barton said. "We had to slow this down. If anything, I've had to slow (Powe and Ward) down and tell them we're not spending all this money."

The program has enhanced meaning for Powe because he now is the father of an 11-month old boy, Leon Powe III. Powe said that has made him even more interested in making sure children are surrounded with adults who take an interest in their lives.

"I didn't have a father figure in my life," he said. "Foster care kids just have to have somebody there for them and somebody who believes in them."

 Tags  Boston Celtics Leon Powe

2 Comments

jim scotland said:

Go Leon Powe, Rhode Island could use you as governor of this little state. Maybe the "Don" could donate some of his monies to the needy of Rhode Island as Mr. Powe has done with his life, dont just talk it, walk it.

Best of luck Leon, I know that you will be one of those people that make the most of his life and help others.

Link | December 27, 2008 9:31 PM
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Tony Amero said:

Leon Powe is an inspiration to anybody, not just his basketball fans. His incredible will to survive and do it with grace is simply a thing to behold. I enjoy basketball, but watching Leon takes my enjoyment higher than ever before. His humble attitude off the court and his fierce determination on the court are a combination that is truly something to see. I hope that he gets well soon and returns to the Celtics. We love him.
Get better soon Leon!!

Link | May 30, 2009 7:16 PM
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