CoachArt - The Art of Improving Lives

POMONA, Calif. – Although Saturday called for an early morning practice, the Cal Poly Pomona women's basketball team made sure to conserve enough energy to challenge the players stepping onto the court next.
 
Those competitors were 18 kids affiliated with CoachArt, a local non-profit organization that offers lessons in the arts and athletics to patients with chronic illnesses.
 
“It was a special day for everybody,” Broncos' senior Rosslyn Beard said. “A lot of the kids don't get a chance to play every day and they don't always have a normal childhood because of the illnesses they are dealing with. To see them running around and smiling Saturday, it was awesome.”
 
The session organized by the Broncos featured many different activities for the children, with CPP combining both instructional and competitive games for the young basketball enthusiasts.   
 
“The women's basketball team was amazing!” said Carla Yarbrough, one of CoachArt's lead volunteers at Saturday's program. “I was particularly impressed with their patience in helping our youngest children through the activities. In talking with the parents afterward, I heard a lot of them say that this was the best CoachArt event their child had ever attended.”
 
Once all of the running, passing, dribbling and shooting came to a close, the Broncos got to hang out with the children and share stories.
 
“We cannot thank the team enough,” Yarbrough said. “The children had so much fun and their parents were so grateful. We hope this can be a regular event because the Broncos' women's basketball team is such a wonderful group.”
 
The CPP squad also took time to sign water bottles and take photos with the kids. Each child that participated in Saturday's activities also received a special certificate of completion signed by Broncos' head coach Danelle Bishop.