As NBA playoffs heat up, the Cleveland Cavaliers are battling through a tough series with the Boston Celtics. But earlier this season, the Cavs had a different reason to celebrate when they hosted their first-ever Team IMPACT Day during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Before tipoff, dozens of prospective families from the Cleveland Clinic joined Team IMPACT participating families and student-athletes from across the Cleveland area to learn more about the program, hear about their Team IMPACT journeys, and apply to get matched with a team of their own. Ten-year-old Kaycee Clark, who is matched with the Kent State women’s basketball team; her mom, Nicole; and Kent State women’s soccer player and Team IMPACT Fellow Amanda Winquist shared their experience in the program and how Team IMPACT has changed their lives, families, and campus communities. “Team IMPACT has given us a distraction during the worst time in our lives,” Nicole shared. “The KSU girls are an extension of our family, and we’ve grown attached to all of them. They root for Kaycee always and make her feel so involved and important which has been huge for her confidence.”
During the game, the crowd got to learn even more about Team IMPACT through in-game reads on the PA and Team IMPACT videos on the JumboTron. Between quarters, Kaycee was welcomed onto the court to toss t-shirts into the crowd, receiving cheers and support from thousands of fans. “Throwing the t-shirts, it felt really special to be honored like that,” Kaycee said.
The day was made even more special because just weeks earlier, Kaycee hit a major milestone. After a surgery to remove a tumor in her brain followed by months of chemo and radiation, Kaycee completed her treatment, and her Kent State basketball teammates were right there with her to celebrate.
Kaycee said her time with the Cavs made her feel like a rockstar, something the Kent State community has known about her since they met. The Cleveland Cavaliers are dedicated to enhancing their community through sport, investing in organizations that directly support the development and well-being of youth in Northeast Ohio. Team IMPACT, they say, exemplifies their mission to create futures and change the world. “Team IMPACT embodies the spirit of sport in our children’s lives,” said Scott MacDonald, Senior Director of Youth Sports Partnerships with the Cleveland Cavaliers and longtime supporter of Team IMPACT. “Nelson Mandela quotes, ‘Sports have the power to change the world…It speaks to youth in a language they understand.’ Team IMPACT captures that magic and breathes it to life with their community partnerships and families while engaging college and professional sports teams to pour love into the youth they selflessly serve.”
And just as the student-athletes support their matched children, these children equally, bright light, love, and support to their teammates. Together, these relationships are exemplifying the power of sport. “What Team IMPACT means to my team is a special opportunity to change someone’s life,” said Winquist, who completing her time as a Team IMPACT Fellow and student-athlete this spring. “Being a part of a child’s growth and development through opportunities they may not be able to encounter is one of the wonderful aspects that comes from sports. Being a Fellow for Team IMPACT allows me to grow personally and be able to be a role model for young kids to look up to.”
With more matches being made every day, Team IMPACT’s work in the Cleveland area is just getting started. “We are looking forward to creating more memories together in the future,” said MacDonald. By connecting with teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, we strive to create more opportunities for families and athletes to showcase the power of sports to change the world.