WGBO: 63 years of excellence for the Riverside Hawks basketball and academic programs

The 63-year-old baseball & academic program known as the Riverside Hawks has been the starting point for many current, former and future basketball professionals. The list includes: Donovan Mitchell, Ty Jerome, Eric Paschal, Chris Mullin, Kenny Smith, Kenny Anderson, Ed Pinckney, Metta World Peace, Lamar Odom, Rafer Alston, Elton Brand, Malik Sealy and Omar Cook.

Omar Cook, now the Cleveland Cavalier’s assistant coach is one of those individuals, who as a kid, was part of the Riverside Hawks and received his early training at the Harlem based non-profit organization.

The nationally recognized Riverside Hawks basketball and academic program holds its annual fundraiser on Thursday, November 7. This year’s Hope, Health, and Hoops Gala will honor three critical supporters of the program and celebrate the life of one of its most devoted and beloved board members. The event will take place at New York’s Mandarin Oriental (80 Columbus Circle).

This year, the award-winning journalist, author, founder, and president of The K.I.N.G. Christian Men’s Movement and on-air NBA thought leader Chris Broussard will host the evening’s celebration.

Broussard spoke with WBGO’s Doug Doyle about hosting the special event.

Broussard says he’s thrilled to host the event.

“People who know basketball know that the Riverside Hawks have had a tremendous program for years. Many of their great players made it to the NBA. To give kids a chance to follow their dreams as those guys did is huge, but it’s also about teamwork, character building, the emphasis on academics and just becoming a better person that is so important to me. It’s so important what we pour into young people through their teenage years.” 

The gala’s honorees are the following:

Gil Addo is the SVP of Specialty Care Solutions | CVS Health and Co-founder of RubiconMD, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CVS Health. RubiconMD’s digital health platform empowers primary care clinicians with access to virtual specialist support to improve patient care. Currently in 37 states and supporting over 8,000 clinicians, RubiconMD provides much-needed access to world-class medical care to individuals who need it most and often lack the financial resources.

Erik Gershwind is a distinguished member of the board of Riverside Hawks and President and Chief Executive Officer of MSC Industrial Supply Co., a premier distributor of metalworking and maintenance, repair and operations products and services to industrial customers throughout North America. He is also a member of MSC’s Board of Directors. During his 25-year tenure with MSC, Erik has held a series of progressively responsible leadership roles across the business. Under Erik’s leadership, MSC’s strategic investments in people, technology, acquisitions, and regional expansion across North America have resulted in revenue growth of approximately 70 percent to $3.4 billion, placing the company at No. 721 on the 2020 Fortune 1000 list, including Sales, Product Management, Marketing, eCommerce and Strategy.

Phil Isom, Chair of the Board of Riverside Hawks, is Chair of the Private Funds practice at the global law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. As a lifelong resident of the Harlem community, Phil credits his life and career successes to the lessons he learned from Harlem- based organizations like the Riverside Hawks. Phil has been connected with the Riverside Hawks for over 15 years also as a coach of both boys and girls travel teams. He has remained engaged throughout his time working with the Hawks and helped identify and secure substantial resources on the organization’s behalf.

This year, the organization experienced the loss of one of its most beloved and longest-serving board members, Dr. Emily Anderson. This year’s gala program will honor her dedication and contributions to the program by celebrating her life.

As the organization mourns Dr. Anderson’s death, it also welcomes a new era of leadership with the introduction of the newly appointed Executive Director of the Riverside Hawks, Aswan Morris. Morris is a former professional basketball player, Harlem resident, and highly recognized motivational speaker who is guided by his faith and love of community.

If you want to learn more about the organization, please visit www.riversidehawks.org.