“Holiday Heat” Fundraiser Brings in Celebrity Athletes for Antoine Walker’s “The 8 Foundation”

by Ken Payne
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It was the day after Christmas and what better time to keep the holiday spirit alive! Miami Heat superstar and Chicago native Antoine Walker presented “Holiday Heat” a fundraiser for the charity “The 8 Foundation” he founded in 1997. The red carpet event was held at the posh Reserve, located at 858 West Lake Street right here in Chicago. Many fellow celebrities were on hand making star-studded entries one after another such as Miami’s Gary Payton, Alonzo Mourning, Udonis Haslem, and current and former Bears Thomas Jones and Jerry Azumah. If that wasn’t enough Grammy nominated R&B singer Carl Thomas was on hand to perform a private concert, which included his hits “I Wish” and “Emotional”. Throughout the event NBC5’s sports reporter Peggy Kusinski gave the play-by-play, joking with various players while urging guests to be generous in their donations. Reserve was jumpin’ with merriment, goodwill and was encompassed a true feeling of selflessness – the kind of feeling one would have after watching “It’s A Wonderful Life”.

The 8 Foundation was developed to reach out and provide positive opportunities for Boston and Chicago’s inner-city youth. The organization also focuses on single parent mothers. To raise money for the charity, guests had the opportunity to bid on numerous items at the silent auction, mingle with many local and national invited celebrity guests. Some items up for bid included signed jerseys from Brian Urlacher and Thomas Jones as well as autographed goods and sporting equipment from members of the Miami Heat including Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O’Neal himself.

In talking with Antoine during the event I could sense the conviction he has for his cause and the determination in which to make a difference. It was obvious that the “Holiday Heat” charity was something that not just hit close to home for Antoine, but also to the other athletes who showed up in his support.

Buzz S&E – What does it mean to you to come back to your hometown and hold a charity event such as “Holiday Heat”?

Antoine – It’s everything for me. I’m born and raised here, my family here, my kids…I want to make sure that I do something positive and special for the community so I’m working real hard to do that. It’s kind of hard because I’m afar. I only get three months out of the year to really make an impact so I look at this opportunity as a chance to get something together and let people know what I’m doing in the community. Every time I get a chance, I’m going to try and make some impact.

Buzz – It’s apparent that it’s not really just about the game of basketball for you.

Antoine – For me it’s more than basketball. Like I said I have so many friends and family here. I grew up in the inner city watching so many kids go through the same struggles that I went through. I’ve got to make some kind of way for them. I’m just trying to do my part. I know I can’t help everybody – I’m just doing my part.

Buzz – What was it that got you started in this journey?

Antoine – I wanted to kind of do something as a tribute to my mom. She raised me so I decided to start a foundation for other single parent moms and I kind of piggybacked off that. Since I’ve been in the league I’ve been doing it at different levels so it’s been good.