by Micah Hart
courtesy UNICEF Spain
Pau Gasol has always been one of the most socially conscious players in the NBA, so it should come as no surprise that he is spending part of his offseason in Chad as part of a UNICEF mission to service over one million malnourished children in the Sahel region of the country. From the LA Times:
Gasol has long been aware of the human condition, appreciative of the joys and sorrows that life brings. The Lakers forward has taken another step in further grasping that concept, arriving in the African nation of Chad on Thursday as part of a week-long trip in the Sahel region, where he’ll work as a UNICEF ambassador.
Gasol has been Spain’s UNICEF ambassador since 2003, so he’s been on the “using my prestige and privilege to help people out” train for a long time. He’s even willing to lower himself to singing terrible songs by The Fray, if it helps raise money for the organization:
This last March, Gasol participated in El Rey Theater’s “Play List With the A-List,” in which celebrities sang karaoke to raise funds for UNICEF. Gasol sang the Fray’s “How to Save a Life.”
If only there were a series of tubes where someone might have posted video evidence of Gasol and his pipes. (Thinking). Oh right!
Gasol won this past season’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, so it’s good to see the big man isn’t resting on his laurels.
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Why hasn’t this young man’s volunteer work received more media coverage? Are player train wrecks really that much more interesting?
Thanks Pau Gasol. i am humbled and proud of you for your generosity …..many celebrities and sports figures are busy with off the court and off the field negatives stuff during off season. You are true representative of Humanity. representing your country in the Olympics, working with Unicef etc. As a Laker fan i am even more respectful of you now. keep up the good work.
good job Pau as long as you do the right thing good things will happen to you. Yor blessed to be a blessing! It makes me that much happier being a laker fan. Exciting times are ahead!!!!
There is a big difference between an entrepreneur, who goes into business just to make money; and a social entrepreneur, who still goes into business to make money but at the same time making the lives of people around him better. And Pau being a great and successful athlete, you are definitely making the lives of suffering people better. Keep on being a social basketball entrepreneur and God will bless you with even more success that money can’t buy. KUTGW!
Pau is a really wonderful person, he deserves all good matters. Spain is proud of him and his values.
Pau gonna have your third ring.
The stories that need to be published are. 1. Kobe Bryant cannot lead a team because he’s a ball hog 2. Dwight Howard cannot take his job seriously and clowns around too much 3. Pau Gasol is not tough enough 4. Steve Nash is too old 5. Ron Artest cannot defend and is too foot slow
These stories leaking throughout the media will only pump fire into these players. Go Lakers
I am proud of being a Laker fan. We need more players like Pau in the league. I am sure there are many that help out but don’t get the recognition but reading stories like these is uplifting. If there are more people like Pau the world would truly be a better place.
Soft? Going to Chad(!!!) and trying to help starving littele boys. That is tougher than any pick in the paint… I wonder what K. Perkins has to say about it (if he understands the idea…)
Perkins is a real sweet guy off the court, ask Rondo. He just seems like a big jerk on the court because he feels its necessary to be the bad guy.