Column: Balls Bouncing In

by Woody

My new memoir WOODEN & ME is also available here at Amazon

Readers Deck Halls With Sports Balls

The day before my annual “Woody’s Holiday Ball Drive” kicked off, serial supporters Howard and Kathy Reich got things rolling – and bouncing – by donating two basketballs, two playground balls and two footballs.

Jim Cowan also enthusiastically jumped the gun by delivering ten basketballs – one each in honor of mentors who played important roles in his life – to the Ventura Boys & Girls Club. He happily noted: “They remembered me from past deliveries.”

BallDriveThe generosity has continued and to date, dear readers, you have donated 93 new sports balls to give local disadvantaged kids reason to smile.

There’s still time to drop off gift balls at any local youth organization – and please email word of your donation to woodywriter@gmail.com so it can be added to the final tally.

Here are some more generous givers to further inspire you:

Former Star – and all-star – sportswriter Jim Parker was as quick with the giving as he always was on a keyboard, and on Day 1 donated a basketball and soccer ball at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Ventura.

“I donated a football and basketball to the Montalvo Boys & Girls Club in honor of my brother, Michael Demeter, a great person and athlete who will be glad kids will be helped,” wrote Allison Johnson.

Draza Mrvichin dropped off two basketballs, four soccer balls and five baseballs to the Saticoy Boys & Girls Club.

Dorothy Jue Lee donated two official NFL footballs and one NBA basketball, noting: “As a retired elementary teacher I know how valuable balls are for children.” A week later, Dorothy decided she wanted to do more and gave another football and basketball to the Salvation Army, a recipient choice that honors the memory of Julius Gius who originated The Star’s annual Bellringer Campaign.

Kate Larsen, also a teacher, also donated to the Salvation Army, giving one football, one soccer ball and one basketball, noting: “It’s something to get the kids out of the house and off their electronic games.”

Another teacher, Kathy McAlpine, and her husband Ken, donated a soccer ball and Jane Montague dished out one basketball.

Glen Sittel donated one soccer ball, basketball and football and shared: “My son’s favorite ‘toy’ was always a ball and I think of the great times any parent can have with their children with something as simple as a ball. In addition, this gets the kids away from our electronic age and back to good old outdoor fun and exercise.”

Joann VanBuskirk, who donated two balls, similarly noted: “Sixty minutes a day is the new slogan to get kids outside and your ball drive will help a lot.”

Karyne and Tom Roweton gave one basketball, football and soccer ball.

Norma Zuber enlisted her sisterhood at Ventura’s Philanthropic Educational Organization Chapter FZ and donated four basketballs, four soccer balls and four regulation softballs. PEO’s motto is “Helping women reach for the stars” but it also helps girls – and boys – do so.

In addition to donating regulation-size basketball, football and soccer balls to Oxnard Fire Station No. 1, Sally and Tom Reeder added a fourth ball, explaining: “We lost a little boy this year – the grandson of our dear friends – who was 16 months old. In memory of Aiden we added one small soccer ball.”

Despite being hobbled by recent knee-replacement surgery, Audrey Rubin bought and delivered one soccer ball and football “in honor of my two bright, healthy (and athletic) darling grandkids.”

Linda and Jerry Mendelsohn did something even more important than donate 20 soccer balls to Westpark’s Police Activities League after-school sports program – they got their 4-year-old grandson involved in the philanthropy.

“I took Garrick shopping with me, explaining again why we do this – to help kids who might not get something for Christmas,” Jerry wrote. “He helped me pick out size 3, 4 and 5 soccer balls, load them into the shopping cart, then onto the conveyer at the register, and, finally, into the car for transport to my office, where we unloaded. The feeling that comes from doing this for disadvantaged kids is priceless.”

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Wooden&Me_cover_PRWoody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Ventura County Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@gmail.com.

Check out my new memoir WOODEN & ME: Life Lessons from My Two-Decade Friendship with the Legendary Coach and Humanitarian to Help “Make Each Day Your Masterpiece”