The London Lightning are currently in their fourth year of operations as a basketball organization. But the game isn’t their only focus, as the Lightning are also very passionate about community and charitable involvement. Every home game, in fact, the Lightning partner with a local charity to assist in their fundraising efforts. Since the season opened in November, the Lightning have partnered with nine local charities, and the team plans to partner with at least eight more before the season is over. Charity partners have included: Jumpstart, the Salvation Army, Make-a-Wish Foundation, and the Corus feeds kids food drive.
In November, the Lightning helped to ‘Shine the Light on Woman Abuse’ in support of the London Abused Women’s Centre (LAWC). The players wore custom purple jerseys that were auctioned off following the game, with all the proceeds going to the LAWC. Meanwhile, Coach Knox partnered with GenNext and the United Way of London & Middlesex to ‘Give Cold Feet the Boot’, as fans were asked to donate a pair of new winter boots or a gift card at the Dec. 11, and Dec. 18 home games to help kids in our local community stay warm this winter.
The Lightning are also passionate about youth involvement, and encouraging kids to stay active and eat healthy. The team often visits schools and discusses the importance of healthy living (they also take time to shoot some hoops with the students). The National Basketball League of Canada shares this passion, and has set a goal of 500 school visits this season. It’s a challenge that the London Lightning have happily accepted.
When you support the London Lightning, you aren’t just supporting a basketball team; you are supporting the community of London. To find out more about London Lightning community initiatives, and how you can get involved, visit: www.lightningbasketball.ca or follow the team on Facebook and Twitter.
— Submitted by the London Lightning
