Los Angeles Lakers superstar Dwight Howard is excited to take time away from what was undoubtedly a rigorous NBA campaign in 2012-13 in order to give back to his most important fans.
Dwight Howard will be one of four celebrities involved in the ACUVUE® 1-DAY Contest. Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas, and Shay Mitchell round up the rest of the group. Winners are selected if their videos make the cut and include one 30-second and one 60-second video showcasing what they hope to achieve one day, how to find the confidence to pursue their dreams and why they should be chosen. The winner will have the opportunity to be mentored by each celebrity for a day. The contest will end on May 27, 2013.
Sports Out West caught up with the Lakers All-Star on Tuesday to discuss the promotion and what it entails.
“We do whatever we can to motivate kids to be better,” Howard said. “I’m very excited. I’m happy they asked me for this opportunity. I think it’s very important to try to change a kid’s life. It’s bigger than basketball. I’m looking forward to it.”
To those that do not get the opportunity to be with Howard for a day, he did have some key tips for all basketball hopefuls. If you remember, Howard was also pretty skinny when he first entered the league almost nine years ago.
“If you really want to make it to the NBA, there are a lot of things you must sacrifice,” Howard said. “Whatever it is you have to do, not going out, spending less time with friends, you have to do that. The biggest thing is sacrifice; the dedication. It will not happen overnight.”
His advice on basketball and how to succeed transcend just the game or the NBA, there are strong parallels to his own approach to life.
“You have to push yourself and go beyond what everyone else is doing,” Howard added.
Howard attributed to his own parents as his mentors. He wants this experience to be more than just a contest for the winner.
“This is bigger than just one day. I want to do whatever I can to make this person’s life better,” Howard said. “This is very authentic for me. I want the kid to understand that I’m not doing this for my own good but for the kids.”
Of course his giving will not end with this effort, always a giver in November 2009, he was named one of the 10 finalists for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, which awards athletes for their charitable work.
Howard established the Dwight D. Howard Foundation in 2004 to provide scholarships for students who want to attend his alma mater, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, and grants to Lovell Elementary School and Memorial Middle School in Orlando, Florida. The Foundation also organizes summer basketball camps for boys and girls, and together with high school and college coaches and players, fellow NBA players are invited to be on hand at the camp.
