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Lillie-Beth Brinkman
If you’re still on a community high from the Oklahoma City Thunder winning the NBA championship late last month, you’re not alone.
Since then, it’s been fun to watch members of the Thunder team keep showing genuine support for our city and state – even after the parade and big celebrations.
OKC Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein recently dropped by Positive Tomorrows for a special, low-key event to deliver a donation to the special school and visit with the students and staff in the summer program.
This partnership between the Hartenstein Foundation and the Oklahoma Shirt Co. raised $10,000 through the sale of custom t-shirts featuring Hartenstein’s likeness and signature. Positive Tomorrows is the state’s only school and social services agency exclusively serving children and families experiencing homelessness.
During Hartenstein’s visit, students lined up to meet Hartenstein, who was seated to greet them but is 7 feet tall when he’s standing. He signed autographs for each and took the time to visit with them one-on-one. Later that day, according to Positive Tomorrows’ social media channels, Hartenstein showed up to watch the Oklahoma Children’s Theatre play that one of the students was performing in – she invited him personally during their visit to the school.
Hartenstein said in an interview with the media that he and his family formed the Hartenstein Foundation when he first signed with the Thunder to formalize his commitment to helping others. He said a tour of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum with Thunder General Manager Sam Presti influenced that decision, along with the “Oklahoma Standard” of helping others.
“Seeing what the city’s been through – seeing how the city came together – also really just pushed me to do more, because I think that’s the least we can do,” he said.
Margaret Creighton, Positive Tomorrows’ president and CEO, said Hartenstein has been visiting Positive Tomorrows since his second week in Oklahoma City. She noted that the Thunder gives so much to the community, and the community responds with support, such as by buying enough t-shirts for the $10,000 donation.
The Thunder “is one thing that brings the entire city together,” Creighton said. “We all need some good stuff right now, and this is just incredible.”
All of Hartenstein’s family – his wife, Kourtney, their son Elijah and his parents – are involved in the foundation.
“Giving back is something always really important to me,” he said, adding he wants to help even if he only changes one child’s life. “We’re trying to help kids and families out to just give them a second chance or just give them the stuff they need to succeed in life.”
Hartenstein said he loved hearing from the kids that day how much they loved the parade celebrating the Thunder.
“It’s something special but gives (us) all some more motivation to come back next year and try to try to do it again,” he said.
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