The Adia Barnes Foundation strives to improve the lives of our youth by providing positive role models. We utilize opportunities through education and athletics to raise self awareness, athletic skills and to promote leadership and civic responsibility.
Many young people in our community need direction and inspiration. Making a difference in a young person’s life can be as small as insuring that they have the right school supplies or as big as helping them to recognize their own potential. We want to help them visualize their goals and provide assistance when it is needed. This is a mission that Adia and her team are excited to take on.
Questions and Answers
Why did you start a foundation?
I started a foundation because I know that I have resources to help people and am in a position where I can make a difference. Years ago I saw what Ray Allen and Gary Payton did with their foundations and what they were accomplishing motivated me. When I got hurt and tore my ACL I wasn’t able to play pro basketball for a long period of time, I met with a bunch of people who helped me understand that there were other games to be played, other ways to use the game and with their help, we got the foundation off the ground.
What have you accomplished so far?
When I played I began Barnes’ Buddies where we would sponsor 150 or more children provided food vouchers and designated a section called Barnes’ Buddies for every Storm home game. Most of these children had not been to a professional basketball game in person and would have probably never had the opportunity to. With this program we provided opportunities for youth and their families to step outside of themselves a bit and experience something that they will never forget. I also held a school supply drives to help provide school supplies for an entire year for each student in that particular local elementary school. Every year we do multiple free clinics. We’ve had toy drives, free dinners thousands of mentoring speaking engagements. I donated to the YMCA, Treehouse, Jubliee house, the Boys and Girls Club and other organizations.
What are the biggest things coming up for you?
We’re continuing to hold free clinics around the area. We have silent auctions and luncheons to raise money for the foundation. We are having a big summer camp at the Seattle Academy. We’re doing a mentoring and basketball program partnering with the Boys and Girls Club this year. We’re continuing with our Junior Broadcasters program where kids get to go behind the scenes in a real game broadcast. And, we’re planning on doing a Fantasy Camp for grown-ups. My philosophy is it doesn’t always have to be a huge grand event. Sometimes the more personal events can have a bigger impact. What’s great about the foundation is that I learned from my parents that giving back is rarely about money, often it’s when we give time that we’ve given the world to someone.
