When he retires this season after 15 years in the NBA, Alonzo Mourning plans to focus more on community service.
Mourning already has built a youth center in Miami, where he currently lives and plays for the Miami Heat.
This weekend, the Chesapeake native will bring his "Zo's End of Summer Groove" charity event to town after a two-year sabbatical. This year's Groove will feature a golf outing at the Beach, a youth summit at his former high school, Indian River, and a family day at Mount Trashmore Park.
Celebrity guests include Alesha Renee and Rocsi from Black Entertainment Television and former NFL quarterback Aaron Brooks.
Proceeds from the event will go to several local organizations.
Mourning, 37, said giving back is important because the community and the people in it saved him from a fractured childhood.
"I was fortunate to have good people around me like coaches and teachers," he said during a phone call from Miami. "They contributed to my environment."
At age 10, Mourning decided he didn't want to deal with his parents' rocky marriage, which ended in divorce. He went to live with Fannie Threet, who later became his foster mom.
Athletics carried Mourning a long way.
He shined at Indian River High School, taking the team to the state championships, and went on to play for Georgetown University.
source : content.hamptonroads.com
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