Clippers’ Davis makes appearance at CHS

GIVING BACK—Jewish World Watch executive director Tzivia Schwartz Getzug, left, Enough Project co-founder John Prendergast, Clippers point guard Baron Davis and Jewish World Watch co-founder and president Janice Kamenir-Reznick present a $115,000 check to the Enough Project and the NBA Darfur Dream Team to create two new Sister Schools at the Djabal Refugee Camp in Darfur. The check presentation took place Monday night at Calabasas. IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers Baron Davis dropped by Calabasas High on Monday night—but it wasn’t to display his dizzying basketball skills like an acrobatic stutter-dribble drive or step-back 3-point rainbow.

The Los Angeles Clipper guard and two-time NBA All-Star visited the school to help raise awareness about the genocide going on in the Darfur region of western Sudan.

Davis, on behalf of Darfur Dream Team’s Sister Schools program, was on hand to receive a $115,000 check from Jewish World Watch, a Los Angelesbased human rights group.

The Darfur Dream Team’s Sister Schools program is an organization founded by Houston Rocket Tracy McGrady. The group helps raise money for elementary-aged students living in the Darfuri refugee camps in the neighboring country of Chad.

“These people only have hope—they have nothing else,” Davis said to the Acorn before being presented with the check.

“They have no resources. We’re so privileged here. Sometimes we as people get comfortable, and even ungrateful, for what we have.”

Davis became involved with the Darfur Dream Team project after talking with his friend McGrady, who visited the camps and made a documentary of his experience.

NBA players Luol Deng, Jermaine O’Neal, Etan Thomas and Los Angeles Laker Derek Fisher are also active with the Darfur Dream Team.

Calabasas senior Brandon Bakhshi enthusiastically introduced Davis to the cheering crowd.

“That was the best introduction ever,” Davis said.

Bakhshi, 18, co-founded the club Deeds for Darfur, which raises awareness about the Darfur genocide, three years ago.

Agoura students also attended Monday’s fundraiser.

“We try to draw in even the most apathetic students,” Bakhshi said.

The Coyote was excited to have Davis visit his school.

“It’s a big deal to get a star here on campus,” Bakhshi said. “It doesn’t happen very often. Having someone well known to advocate this cause makes a big difference.”

Bakhshi was inspired to start the club after listening to a refugee’s harrowing story at Camp JCA Shalom during the summer of 2007.

“It made the genocide even more real,” he said.

CHS senior Jared Spile, 18, another co-founder of the group, hopes more students will become involved in the cause.

“We’re excited the turnout is this big and this successful,” Spile said. “We’re going to graduate, and we need to try and draw more people to the club. We need to keep awareness going.”