When Garden of Dreams young person Fiona arrived at Jr. Knicks basketball camp this summer, she wasn’t sure what to expect. Without much previous basketball experience, she was excited to try something new, but she did not quite know how it would affect the use of her prosthetic left leg.
By the end of camp, not only had Fiona enjoyed a fun-filled week, but she had won the Dave DeBusschere award for leadership on and off the court. Even more importantly, she joined the larger Garden of Dreams family, which is a community that surrounds you for a lifetime.
We knew we had to see Fiona again soon, so we invited her and her family to Madison Square Garden – but that’s not all. We also got in touch with our partners at Wounded Warrior Project, who called up Jamal – a military veteran who also uses a prosthetic left leg.
Fiona’s family and Jamal’s family both arrived at the Garden bright and early for some 9 a.m. court time, where they got to dribble, shoot, play, and bond on the arena’s iconic basketball court. As an added surprise, Knicks alum and Garden of Dreams Advisory Board member John Starks arrived to meet the whole crew and, of course, provide some basketball coaching advice. Throughout the experience, Fiona’s mother repeatedly said how meaningful it was for Fiona to see Jamal thrive, play basketball, and enjoy life with his family. By the same token, Jamal made several comments about how much purpose it gave him to be this beacon for Fiona.
Later that night, Jamal’s family returned to the arena to enjoy the Knicks game from a catered suite. Fiona returned three weeks later to serve as the “honorary Knick” at Knicks Garden of Dreams Night!
From start to finish, it was an incredibly special day that none of us will soon forget!