FreshDirect Donates $2000 TO C-BALL

FreshDirect Donates to Community Basketball League

by Koi Germany

This past Saturday, Larry Scott Blackmon, vice president of online grocer, FreshDirect, presented a check for $2,000, plus nutritious foodstuffs promoting healthy living to the organizers of the C-BALL event at the Sonia Sotomayor Community Center.

Mr. Sleep Johnson, Community Board member and Executive Director of C-BALL; Larry Scott Blackmon, Vice President, Public Affairs for FreshDirect; L.A. Sunshine, Rapper and C-BALL Host and Emcee.

Pictured above (left to right): Mr. Sleep Johnson, Community Board member and Executive Director of C-BALL; Larry Scott Blackmon, Vice President, Public Affairs for FreshDirect; L.A. Sunshine, Rapper and C-BALL Host and Emcee.

 

Abdul "Sleep"  Johnson, C-BALL CEO.

Abdul “Sleep” Johnson, C-BALL CEO.

C-BALL, short for Community Board Athletic Leadership League, provides local youths in Bronx neighborhoods with an athletic outlet while also integrating specialized activities such as mentoring, job readiness, and academic enrichment. The year-old league is spearheaded by Chairman and CEO, Mr. Abdul “Sleep” Johnson, who was in attendance.

Akin to a “home away from home,” group leader Jayvoni Rogers said C-BALL’s goal is to instill in players and participating venues a sense of community.

Citing the importance of a program of its kind and the benefits C-Ball brings to a community, Blackmon remarked, “I want to make sure you guys eat well.” Handing over an oversized check to Johnson, he posed briefly for a photo with the participants of C-Ball’s youth clinic.

Asked for a few words about C-BALL, Mr. Johnson expressed his gratitude for having such a diverse and multi-talented teams. Going out of his way to personally thank those involved with the effort, ranging from his many interns and volunteers to the coaches and even his fiancé, he appeared incredibly indebted to them. “Staff makes C-Ball work,” he stated, a personal mantra he says which has yet to fail.

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Pictured above (l to r): Larry Scott Blackmon, Vice President, Public Affairs for FreshDirect with C-BALL staff members and C-BALL Youth Clinic participants.

Kicking the games off was a blessing by a pastor who extolled the communal nature of the league.

The day’s events saw the women’s home team representing the Sotomayor Houses face off against an away team comprised of players from other Bronx neighborhoods. The men’s game, however, pitted local players against New York City Department of Sanitation workers.

There providing humorous commentary for every missed shot and muffed pass was L.A. Sunshine, of Treacherous Three acclaim.

At halftime of each game, children were invited onto the court to shoot baskets for fun and prizes.

In the women’s game, the home team lost to the visitors, 50-42. Nonetheless, the home crowd cheered and applauded their efforts in a narrow loss.

CBALL action

On the other hand, the men’s game was a rout as the home team demolished the older, slower sanitation workers, 72-14. It was a win the C-BALL men were glad to secure for hometown pride.

It was safe to say that everyone enjoyed a safe, fun and healthy event. Many Bronxites in attendance commended FreshDirect for its financial support of a positive community organization.

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