WS Chronicle

Chris Paul is one of the newest ambassadors for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

The Los Angeles Clippers point guard and Forsyth County native performed his first official ambassadorial duties earlier this month, visiting a school in New Orleans that both his foundation and Laureus support by offering after-hours activities for disadvantaged youth. His induction into Laureus Family was announced at KIPP Central City Primary School.

Both the Foundation and Paul have deep roots in The Big Easy. Laureus USA and its partner Mercedes-Benz USA have invested more than $500,000 in the city over the past two years. Paul was drafted in 2005 by the New Orleans Hornets and played for the team until he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2011. KIPP is part of the AfterSchool Zone program, an initiative launched by Paul’s own CP3 Foundation in 2010. It is a multi-year project which provides after-school support, including sport, language lessons and homework help.

Paul said his work as an ambassador is a tribute to all those who have supported him throughout his life.

“I will never forget how much of my success today I owe to my family and the fact that they supported me as I grew up and continue to support me and my wife and children today. Most important of all, I’m thinking of my grandfather. He taught me the values that have made me who I am today,” he said. “Not everyone is lucky enough to have that person and this is why I am so passionate about giving back to young people who might be in need of someone to guide them through tough times. It’s this kind of work I’m so excited about taking on as I become a Laureus Ambassador.”

Members of the Laureus World Sports Academy and Laureus Ambassadors volunteer their time as global ambassadors for the Foundation, whose mission is to use sport as the means to combat some of the world’s toughest social challenges facing young people today such as juvenile crime, gangs, HIV/AIDS, discrimination, social exclusion, lack of education, landmines awareness and health problems such as obesity. Since its inception Laureus has raised more than $60 million and currently supports more than 140 community sports projects in 34 countries.

Olympic gold medalist Edwin Moses is the longtime chairman of the Laureus. He said Paul will greatly help further the foundation’s mission.

“It is an extraordinary honor to welcome world class athlete and fellow philanthropist Chris Paul to the Laureus family,” Moses said. “We are excited to join forces with Chris and look forward to working together to spread the word about how investing in quality sports-based youth development programs can make an enormous impact in children’s’ lives.”