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| Alonzo Mourning |
| Published on 05-28-2010 | Email To Friend Print Version
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Alonzo Mourning: prominent athlete witha passion for charity
For some stars, the fame, glory, and wealth that come with a successful career is all they need. For others, all that glory just provides an even bigger opportunity to help others. Alonzo Mourning belongs to the latter group. He may be rich and famous now, but his life has been far from easy – from a challenging childhood, to making it through college, to surviving kidney disease, Alonzo knows the meaning of adversity. With humility, respect, thankfulness, and hope, Alonzo is makinga difference in the lives of countless kids and teenagers.
Retired basketball star Alonzo Mourning is founder of Alonzo Mourning Charities (AM Charities), which operates out of Miami, FL. Since 1997, Mourning has raised more than $7 million for various programs that aid in the development of children and their families. Mourning is an advocate for youth initiatives and foster care programs that assist abused, abandoned, and neglected kids. He has won numerous awards for his charitable efforts and is a sought-after speaker, engaging audiences of all ages and sizes on the importance of education, leadership and perseverance.Mourning is a seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year (1999 and 2000). Most of his career was played with the Miami Heat. He was also among the elite NBA stars selected to represent the United States in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.Mourning received a degree in Sociology at Georgetown University. He and his wife, Tracy Wilson Mourning, reside in Miami, Florida with their three children – sons Trey and Alijah and daughter Myka.Alonzo was kind enough to find time in his busy schedule to answer some questions with International Life. Read on to find out more about his charitable work, the challenges he’s faced in life, and what he plans to do next...
IL: You faced a lot of challenges as a child and a young man. Tell us a little about your life growing up.
AM: Like a lot of kids today, I faced many challenges and was forced to overcome them as best as I knew how. I elected myself into a group home and shortly thereafter I requested to be placed into state foster care because the group home setting was not for me. I was lucky and ended up with a wonderful woman, my foster mom Fannie Threet, who encouraged me and provided a great and positive environment for me to grow up. I was able to excel in athletics, specifically basketball, and earned a full scholarship to Georgetown University. Initially I felt somewhat out of place just because the majority of students there came from upper-class families and had received a strong education, but my coach really helped me to focus and work extra hard both in basketball and in my studies.
 
Alonzo Mourning inspires youth and gives a lesson on tying a necktie
Alonzo leads the Summer Grove Youth Basketball Clinic
IL: What is the most memorable event from your childhood?
AM: My most transformative childhood event was putting myself into foster care at the age of ten. I realized I needed to change things and I took my life into my own hands.
IL: What role did women play in your life?
AM: My foster mom, Fannie Threet, played a very important role in my childhood. She was a local hero where I grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia. She helped raise forty-nine kids. I knew that staying with Ms. Threet was the best thing for me. Ms. Threet continues to inspire me as I now continue to help the youth in my community.
IL: How did you start playing basketball?
AM: When I was living in foster care my dad enrolled me in a summer basketball camp at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. I was twelve years old and knew right away that I loved basketball. The coach at the time helped me begin to set my goals on playing college ball and providing me with all the tools and resources I needed to play successfully. By the time I was in the eighth grade, I was playing on the high school junior varsity.
IL: So many professional athletes seem to lose themselves when they go into retirement. After focusing for so long on the sport, there's a sense of “Now what?” But you have thrown yourself into charity work, starting long before retirement. What was your inspiration for founding Alonzo Mourning Charities in 1997?
AM: I saw a lot of mistreated and misunderstood children when I was in a group home. Important to starting Alonzo Mourning Charities was being able to help kids that wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity to grow and fulfill their potential.Alonzo Mourning Charities (AM Charities) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) public fundraising foundation. Our vision is to inspire through advocacy, education and enrichment services. Since 1997, we have raised more than $7 million for various programs that aid in the development of children and their families. In addition to supporting numerous educational initiatives, our primary programs of focus are the Honey Shine Mentoring Program for girls, founded by my wife, Tracy Wilson Mourning, the Overtown Youth Center, and Zo’s Fund for Life.
IL: Your charitable work focuses on giving young people residing in low socioeconomic communities support to make the right decisions and fulfill their potential. You have worked hard to influence their future. How do you see these kids turning out? What are the long-term changes that you would like to see in the communities you work in?
AM: Seeing these kids finish school, go to college, successfully reach their career goals and become productive citizens is the ultimate goal of Alonzo Mourning Charities. These kids may never get the opportunity to follow their dreams or finish school without our help and guidance, and that’s what we’re here to provide. Seeing them succeed in life means we had a positive impact.
IL: The Overtown Youth Center (OYC) was opened in 2003 in Miami, FL.
Tell us about the work of the OYC.
AM: In 2003, I teamed up with donors to build the OYC, a state-of-the-art facility in Miami’s inner city of Overtown. OYC programs are designed to engage children in educational and recreational activities that promote their physical, cognitive, motor, social, and emotional development. OYC’s mission is to inspire and empower youth and families by fostering hope through enrichment services. We are proud of our record of helping local kids graduate from high school and go on to pursue their collegiate dreams.
IL: Your website mentions plans to open more youth centers. Please tell us a little more about that.
AM: We are now working with the City of Miami Gardens to open a Center in the Bunche Park area. This area is known for its 30% graduation rate. We are hoping to combat this startling statistic. The split-level facility will include dance and music studios, a library, classrooms and a gymnasium.
IL: What, to you, has been the greatest sign that you are making a difference?
AM: Alonzo Mourning Charities has grown to become such a big part of our community. I see it in the kids more than anything. They have a vision and they walk with purpose. Seeing the youth of our community become more focused on education and experience things they wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to do shows me that we are on the right path.
 Alonzo Mourning's 33 Thanksgivings
AM: Our “33 Thanksgivings” program was started in 2000 and the first year we delivered 33 meals to nearby families. Over the years this program has grown tremendously with the support of partners like Publix Super Markets and UPS. This year we will deliver 533 meals, each feeding a family of four, and will be visiting the Ronald McDonald House as well as Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Transplant Unit to drop off meals and spend time with residing children and families.
IL: In 2000, you were diagnosed with the rare kidney disease Focal Glomerulosclerosis after a routine pre-season physical checkup. After a kidney transplant, you are doing well. Since then, you founded Zo's Fund for Life, a foundation to raise awareness about kidney disease and to seek funding for research. Tell us more about the work of this fund.
AM: We launched Zo’s Fund For Life during the 2001 NBA All-Star Weekend. The program raises funds for research, education, and testing to fight Focal Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). This summer, through legislation, the “Alonzo Mourning Access to Care Act” was signed into law in the State of Florida by Governor Charlie Christ. This Act is expected to make 11,050 ESRD patients and 200,000 patients with disabilities eligible for the same Medigap coverage. 28 states have adopted Medigap coverage, and there are discussions about taking the legislation to a national level. You can learn more at www.ZosFundForLife.com.
IL: In 2003, your wife, Tracy Wilson Mourning, founded the Honey Shine Mentoring Program for girls ages 8-18. What activities do the girls participate in?
AM: The Honey Shine Mentoring Program is a program of Alonzo Mourning Charities that works to empower young girls to shine as women. They host bi-weekly workshops and an annual four-week summer camp that encourages the balance of mind, body and soul in girls and women by providing nurturing experiences that enlighten their paths and empower their future. More information is available at www.HoneyShine.org.
 Been there before – Alonzo visits a transplant recipient in Arizona
IL: What plans do you have for your charity work in the future? What would you like to do next?
AM: We plan to continue all of current programming and expand the reach of our services. There are so many communities that can benefit from what we do. With the added help of individual donors and corporate partners we can impact so many other lives. My wife’s program, the Honey Shine Mentoring Program, has taken off as well, currently serving more than 150 girls. I’m glad to see we’re helping out young girls through Tracy’s leadership and inspiration.
IL: In 2008, your memoir, Resilience, was released. Why did you decide to write a memoir, and what do you hope people will get out of reading it?
AM: I wanted to share the hardships and challenges I’ve endured and overcome in Resilience, from petitioning myself into foster care as a ten-year-old, to studying my way onto the Dean's list at Georgetown, surviving an incurable and degenerative kidney disease and transplant, as well as pushing to become a top player in the NBA. I wanted my story to become a symbol of hope and strength and to inspire people.
IL: Do you have a favorite book that you would recommend for our readers?
AM: Anyone can benefit from Resilience. It can be applied to any situation. I share all of the struggles I’ve gone through with hope and faith at the forefront.
IL: Is there something else that you dream to accomplish, if so, what is it? 
AM: I look forward to Alonzo Mourning Charities continuing to be successful by offering kids, families and the community even more opportunities to progress. Expanding our programs, growing our scholarship fund… there is so much more.
IL: Alonzo, you’ve had the opportunity to meet with many outstanding and well-known people, including presidents, past and present. Tell us a little about meeting President Obama. What impressions did you take away from that? Of all the people you’ve met, who has left the deepest impression on you?
AM: It was truly an honor being in the presence of President Obama, the first African American president. Witnessing this very historic moment is tremendous. I only wish my grandparents were here to share in this occasion with the rest of the world.
The person who has left a deep impression in my life is and will continue to be my foster mom, Fannie Threet. She was a very giving person. She will go without so other people can have.
IL: Alonzo, you are such an inspiration to so many people, both sports fans and non-fans alike, because you have overcome huge obstacles in life and you do so much to help other people. What advice can you give to people who also want to make a difference in the world, but don’t know how to get started?
AM: There are many opportunities to get involved here at Alonzo Mourning Charities, but first and foremost follow your dreams. Once you are content with yourself, share that with others. Help others achieve their goals. You will be better for it.
 Alonzo and Tracy with President Barack Obama at a dinner hosted by Speaker Nancy Pelosi on October 26, 2009 in Miami
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