Travis Outlaw”s soft spot for kids may be growing.
The former Starkville High School basketball standout who made the jump from high school straight to the NBA doubled his annual contribution to the Boys and Girls Club of Starkville this year.
The 2004 draftee of the Portland Trailblazers was on hand Saturday at McKee Park in Starkville for the fifth annual Travis Outlaw Day, during which he presented his gift of $20,000 to the Boys and Girls Club.
“They do a great job of trying to help the kids. Anything that”s got a positive influence as far as trying to help the kids, I”m all for it,” said Outlaw.
Gloria Ervin, director of the Boys and Girls Club of Starkville, said Outlaw”s donation will go toward the club”s technology building, which helps prepare young people to function in a computer-based society, as well as fund the Torch and Keystone Clubs, which allow children to give back to the community through public service.
Ervin says the Boys and Girls Club also is supported by a charity golf tournament in the spring, but Outlaw”s donation is the club”s largest annual donation.
“Travis” donation allows us to keep the doors open,” says Ervin. “He helps us provide learning activities and has increased what we can do. To the whole Outlaw family, we can”t say enough about the love and support shown the Boys and Girls Club.”
Outlaw”s mother, Markeeta Outlaw, says Travis chose the Boys and Girls Club of Starkville as his primary philanthropy after a visit to the club in 2005.
“He liked what was going on over there,” she says.
“I saw adults trying to help the kids. They weren”t sitting back. They were out there really trying to help. Spending time and putting their effort into it. It wasn”t a money purpose. Everyone was in it for the right reasons,” said Travis Outlaw.
Markeeta Outlaw says Travis also participates in more personal projects like helping fund Amateur Athletic Union youth basketball teams.
“That”s on a case-by-case situation when he feels there”s a need,” she said.
Outlaw Day has served as a community event to honor Outlaw since the Starkville mayor and Board of Aldermen voted the celebration into being in August of 2005, the same month Starkville High School retired Outlaw”s jersey.
Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman opted to perform his civic duty at the official city event as a judge for the barbecue cook-off rather than playing in the Outlaw Day three-on-three basketball tournament. Wiseman admitted, he wouldn”t have fared well in the tournament.
“It”s wonderful to have somebody born and raised in this community who has gone on to achieve the prominence Travis has. It”s even more wonderful that he remains an active part of the community,” said Wiseman.
He called Outlaw”s donation to the Boys and Girls Club a “remarkable investment in the future of our community.”
“Even though he lives most of the year in a different place, he still is very much a part of this community. He already has given us so much just by remaining a positive force,” said Wiseman.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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