CLEVELAND — Giving back to the community is always special when professional sports teams, athletes or coaches step up to do so. Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and his wife Nikki recently did just that.
On Tuesday, the Cavs announced that Coach Bickerstaff and his wife provided iPads and one year of internet service to 10 Cleveland-area high school seniors.
The Bickerstaff's worked with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio to select 10 members of the Clubs - five students from East Tech High School and five from John Adams College & Career Academy – to receive the gifts and to stay connected to the family throughout the school year.
Coach and his wife Nikki packed 10 Nike backpacks at the Cleveland Clinic Courts, each with an iPad, protective case and pencil; as well as Cavs gear, such as a sweatshirt and hat, and even a Cavs-branded face mask.
The bags were picked up by Richard Starr (Club and Athletic Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio) and delivered to the students, who were gathered at the Boys & Girls Clubs’ East Tech location.
The Bickerstaff's also had lunch delivered to the group and then surprised them on a Zoom call to share the announcement and watch the students open their backpacks filled with Cavs goodies. The bags were filled with their new tech equipment and Cavs swag.
Coach Bickerstaff spoke to the seniors about the commitment that he and Nikki were making to them, that they will be checking in regularly with the students to help them make the most of their education, and that they expect commitment in return – in fact, the the Bickerstaff's and the students all signed “contracts” to agree to the responsibility.
Coach Bickerstaff also spoke to them about the importance of voting in the upcoming election.
