Heat’s ‘shared vision of giving back to the community’ makes appearance ahead of Thanksgiving
The Miami Heat was busy during its five-day break between games last week.
On Nov. 20, Heat center Bam Adebayo teamed up with former Heat captain Udonis Haslem to host a Thanksgiving event, “Farmers Market Experience,” in Liberty City. In partnership with Food Rescue US, the event allowed for community members to select fresh produce and Thanksgiving staples — all at no cost.
The next day on Nov. 21, the Heat hosted its 33rd annual Thanksgiving Celebration at the Miami Rescue Mission. The Heat distributed approximately 600 Thanksgiving baskets to underserved families and provided hot meals to 450 residents of the Miami Rescue Mission, which is an organization that provides services to the homeless and those in need throughout Miami-Dade County.
“You create an environment in which everybody can flourish, and that becomes a shared vision within the organization,” Heat president Pat Riley said. “When it comes to the Heat and all of these things like we do — like the gala and the Family Festival and the multiple charity things — it’s all part of that shared vision of giving back to the community.”
For Adebayo, he’s often helping the community alongside Haslem after becoming close friends during their time as Heat teammates. Haslem has also become a mentor for Adebayo.
“Help is always helpful at the end of the day. No matter how it is, no matter how it looks,” Adebayo said, with the Heat on the road to face the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night on the second night of a back-to-back set. “Just having a guy in my corner that resembles and represents loving people and also taking care of business at the same time. So for us, we look at it as giving to people. But also we’re taking care of business by helping our community.”
Adebayo and Haslem held their Thanksgiving event at Samuel K. Johnson Youth Center in Liberty City, close to where they first spent time together after the Heat drafted Adebayo in 2017. Haslem, a Miami native, spent part of his childhood in Liberty City.
“That was literally the first place I went when I actually got the opportunity to hang out with UD,” Adebayo recalls. “He took me over there to tell me: ‘This is this community, this is where I’m from.’ And to share that moment, that was all I can remember. So every time I think about Thanksgiving and giving to the people, it’s always Liberty City.”
At the Thanksgiving event that the Heat hosted last week, coaches, players and team officials were in attendance.
“You hear so much about our culture that was started by Pat and the Arison family,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It’s based around competition. But it’s more than that, it’s deeper than that. It’s about also sharing in our blessings, giving back to our community. This is our backyard here and to share on a day like this really is amazing.”
That’s why after a hard practice last week, members of the Heat organization made the 10-minute drive from Kaseya Center to the Miami Rescue Mission to hold their annual Thanksgiving event. Adebayo did it just 24 hours after holding his own Thanksgiving event.
“I do this every year,” Adebayo said. “I never get tired of doing things like this. Just being able to give to the people, understanding that I come from a poor situation. So I understand what those shoes are like and I never had anybody from my community do this for me. So being able to do this is bigger than us. It’s about inspiring the youth and also giving back to our community.”
