Inductee: Alonzo Mourning

Forever enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, Alonzo Mourning was nothing less than a star. But, in an interview with ESPN, he said, “I feel like my true purpose here is service to others. It’s bigger than basketball.”

Well. Let’s refresh our memory on just how “big” basketball was for him.

“Zo” was drafted second overall in the 1992 draft by the Charlotte Hornets but played 10 of his 16 years with the Miami Heat and a couple with the New Jersey Nets.

 He has a Championship and Olympic Medals, is a seven-time All-Star and had his number, 33, retired by the Heat. After all, he was “the very best thing that ever happened to this franchise,” said Pat Riley, Heat Coach at the time.

With all of that, how could anything be bigger?

21 years ago, Alonzo and his wife, Tracy, began the Mourning Family Foundation (MFF) to help children and teens through advocacy, education and enrichment. They collect contributions, which they allocate to various programs that help children and their families. At this time, MFF has raised well over $25 million for these programs, most of which are in socioeconomically challenged communities.

While the Mournings donate to other programs through MFF, they’ve created their own charities as well.

One charity, Honey Shine, teaches girls, who are called “Honey Bugs,” life-skills and educational experiences including: health, nutrition, sex and drug education, career mapping and academic achievement.

Honey Shine has bi-monthly workshops and a summer camp offered for the participants.

Their second charity, Overtown Youth Center (OYC) is incredibly successful. OYC is designed to combine educational and recreational activities in order to promote academic, social, emotional and physical development.

The program entails an in-school program, an afterschool program, a summer program, a post-high school program, a parent program and United Way EDEN Place (a family resource center). OVC hosts events, some that have been made annual because of their popularity.

Mourning has gone beyond charities through his foundation and has multiple programs that provide services to youths as well.

           The Mourning Family Foundation Educational Scholarship Fund was created because Mourning did not want any child who desired higher education to be denied based on financial need. This is to encourage a thirst for knowledge and the importance of an education. They will provide a four-year scholarship for an undergraduate degree at an institute for higher education.

          The Anti-Poverty Initiative is a program in Miami-Dade aimed at eliminating poverty. They identify target areas and fund partner organizations who are working to improve the lives of impoverished families in the county.

           I could go on forever about the various programs, initiatives, charities and fundraising that Mourning has done. There really is just an endless amount of quality work that has been done by this foundation.

           But the road hasn’t always been so smooth for Alonzo. At the end of his career, Mourning was diagnosed with a rare kidney disorder called focal glomerulosclerosis. It deteriorated his kidney function to the point that he needed a transplant or his life was at risk.

            Alonzo felt he had to retire in 2003 because he was so sick. Meanwhile, his distant cousin tested and was identified as a match to donate one of his kidneys. Less than a month later, they were able to do the procedure.

           

Mourning said he owes him his life and he also gave him the chance to win his only championship in 2006. He advocates for everyone to become an organ donor.

He chose to launch a campaign, Zo’s Fund for Life, to raise funds for research, education and testing for focal glomerulosclerosis. Part of the funds also go to funding those who are not able to afford their treatment.

Mourning overcame unplanned challenges in his life and now lives to dedicate himself to others. His immense impact on his community cannot be explained, only felt.

‘Zo has completely changed his community and has given children a much brighter future. All while playing ball at the Hall of Fame level, of course.

It’s an honor to share the work of Alonzo Mourning and I am proud to welcome him as our next inductee to the Good Guy Hall of Fame!