Los Angeles Lakers star Metta world Peace donates more than 100,000 dollars in charity: NBA News
Los Angeles Lakers small forward Metta World peace, who was ejected from the ‘Dancing With the Stars’ earlier this week, might not have received the support of the viewers to help him excel further in the competition. However, the NBA superstar, formerly
known as Ron Artest, still loves to care about people and was recently involved in some charity work in his home town Queens, New York.
Artest, known for his sudden outbursts on the field and sometimes off it, had a troubled childhood. He was only 13 when his house burnt down and his parents separated. He knows all about the childhood struggles and insecurities and does not any kid in Queens
to go through the same agony.
Keeping up with his pledge, Artest donated more than one hundred thousand dollars to help children, who are facing similar problems. While talking to New York Daily News, the Lakers star explained, why he cares;
"When I was 13, our house burned down and my mom and dad separated, and from then on I was really agitated and started getting in a lot of trouble. My mom told me I had to see a counselor. He helped me a lot. Without him I don't know where I'd be. Queens
is where I'm from. I want to reach that kid in Queens who's looking for that help.” World Peace said.
Artest handed over about 65,000 dollars to the Steinway Child and Family services based in Long Island City, and also gave 55,000 dollars to the Child Centre of New York which is based near Woodside. The money was raised by raffling off Ron Artest’s 2010
NBA Championship ring. A ceremony was organized in downtown Los Angeles to mark the donation. Speaking after the event, Artest added;
"Queens is where I'm from. I want to reach that kid in Queens who's looking for that help. Maybe there's a lack of support in their household, or they don't know how to be a good dad, a good role model or they're not being educated about mental health medication."
Artest has been very particular about the mental health issues in the past few years. Keeping in view his own anger issues, Artest has been an ardent advocate mental care and apart from auctioning his 2009-10 ring to raise funds for mental charities, in
December 2010, he announced that he would donate his full or partial salary from the 2011–2012 NBA season to promote the cause.
Metta World Peace surely is a man, who loves to care.
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