Garth Brooks Hosts Chicago Basketball Camp
Garth Brooks is one of the busiest artists in country music, but he still finds time to serve those less fortunate. While in Chicago, Ill., for the opening week of his world tour, the 'People Loving People' singer spent time with 150 children at Elk Grove High School on Saturday (Sept. 6) as part of his Teammates for Kids Foundation.
The foundation, along with the company ProCamps, hosted a Teammate ProCamp, with children from the Boys & Girls Club, the Salvation Army and the Oasis Trailer Park all participating. Co-hosted by University of Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self, the day included basketball drills, hands-on help from athletes and coaches and time to ask Brooks and Self questions.
"Be on a team," the Oklahoma native advised the children (quote via the Huffington Post). "If you take anything away from this, remember: love one another, and love yourself."
While Brooks is busy with his world tour, working on a new album and making his music available digitally for the first time in his career, he says helping the youth of today remains one of his most important jobs.
"My dad instilled the importance of hard work and good sportsmanship in each of us," he explains. "That's what this is all about. I want these kids to be able to learn those same lessons."
The country music hitmaker plans to host a Teammates ProCamp in each of the cities on his tour.
"Now that we're back on tour, the parties are back in every city," he tells Illinois' Daily Herald. "I love these kids."
Teammates for Kids was co-founded by Brooks and football star Troy Aikman. It assists children in need in various areas, including health, education and inner-city outreach, raises money for pediatric patients and helps youth sports leagues. One-hundred percent of the proceeds go directly to the children. More information can be found here.
Brooks will continue his tour, along with his wife Trisha Yearwood, with stops in Atlanta, Ga., and Jacksonville, Fla. A list of all of his announced shows can be found here.