Throughout February WNED/WBFO is recognizing everyday citizens of Western New York who are doing amazing things in their communities. Our “Making a Difference” project emphasizes the importance of volunteerism and encourage others to lend a helping hand. Here is the story of a community champion who is “making a difference."
“When you shoot the ball, you’re putting a certain arch on the ball, right, so that it goes in the basket, right?”
Former NBA Player Willie Hutch Jones spends time with underserved kids on the basketball court in hopes of inspiring them.
“I believe every person out there, God has given something to that person. They just got to polish whatever that trait, that skill, that blessing, and they can affect a life.”
That idea sparked the Willie Hutch Jones Sports and Educational Program in Buffalo. The program offers young people a chance to build character, gain confidence and learn new skills like basketball.
”I always had this urge to, to give something back to the community…. We always said we want to do this for free. That was our niche above everything, you know, because we felt that, if you charge people, maybe Juan’s mom can pay a hundred dollars for a month or whatever, a week, whatever your budget is, but, but Peter’s couldn’t, so now we’re discriminating economically.”
Jones notes the programs he offers are funded by businesses and foundations and run with the help of volunteers. Over the last 30 years, they’ve grown far beyond basketball to include other sports such as golf.
Golf Instructor Jim Horne is one of the program’s many volunteers.
“He came to me one day and said I’d like you for you to teach my young people golf. They did everything but golf… knowing what he is trying to do and I volunteered to do this for him for free, and I enjoy it. And I think that he is an inspiration to young people.”
The program also has an educational component.
Jones says, “I’m a classroom teacher and I really believe in the educational piece, that kids need to have literacy and math and all these other kind of things to make them better citizens later on.”
The secret, Jones says, is to make hard work seem like fun.
“Anytime something is fun, you’re going to have a better time at it and you’re going to be more attracted to it and your retention in that activity is going to be there longer.
Jones message is simple, pay it forward.
“It’s important that everybody in their community, in their own way, does something positive to help to affect other lives… I’m lucky and I’m blessed to affect maybe 400 to 500 kids every summer…. When a higher force touches you and embodies you to go out and touch other lives, it’s truly a blessing.”
Listen to WBFO throughout February for more stories of people who are Making a Difference in Western New York. Screen the Making a Difference TV documentary video and audio stories at wned.org.
You can also nominate someone for next year’s production of “Making a Difference”. Visit wned.org/makingadifference to submit your nomination. The deadline is February 28th.