Remembering Dr. Jack Ramsay

Current Situation

Today, thousands of children that resemble myself once upon a time, continue to face the same challenges I faced growing up. Through the "No Child Plays Without" drive, my commitment is to ensure that every program participant never have to endure the same anxieties as I did in my youth. Coming to the USA in 2000 and seeing an abundance of underutilized sports gear broke a storm in my mind to set up year round sports gear collection drives that help support the organized youth sports programs in Zimbabwe. To date, the program works with 26 rural schools that have received sports equipment impacting more than 5000 children to pursue & achieve their dreams.

Passion Meets A Decorated NBA Legend

Growing up in a small town in Zimbabwe & seeing a basketball for the first time in middle school at age 14 did not deter Gus Chikamba from developing love & an undying passion for the game. Unbeknown to Gus, this would mark the beginning of a life changing journey to a place where his life & that of Dr Jack Ramsay, (a well accomplished, successful, smart, kindhearted, and yet so humble & approachable NBA Hall of Famer) would cross paths. "It was divine providence that Madeline & I embarked on a project that would put Dr. Jack Ramsay into our lives & touch our hearts in a way that words could never describe." says Chikamba.

The year 2010 turned the corner in the lives of Gus & Madeline Chikamba after they had the unique opportunity to meet with Dr. Jack Ramsay, the late NBA Hall of Famer in Indianapolis, thanks to the kindness & generosity of Sharon & Jim O'Brien, (former Pacers Head Coach). The meeting took place after the Chikambas met the O'Briens in 2007 in Indianapolis & shared a novel desire & passion to use the Positive Values of Sport to impact underserved children in Zimbabwe. They fell in love with the idea of a sustainable, low cost, low innovation, & organized community grassroots basketball development program supported by game experts from the USA.

The Chikambas Meet Dr. Jack

Better yet, the profound effect of using basketball as a game changer to empower children with lifetime skills needed to overcome day to day social challenges prompted Coach O'Brien to say this about the project, "Every great project has a couple of things in common, one is a vision and two is a passion for that vision: Gus & Madeline have a great vision for basketball infrastructure in Zimbabwe." The Chikambas recall how the O'Briens embraced them like family from the moment they met to this day. "Sharon & Coach O'Brien are two amazing people full of humanitarian affection & kind heartedness" says Gus. He credits the success & evolvement of the program to the O'Brien's support, active involvement, strategic guidance & small gifts. "We feel very privileged to have known Sharon & Coach O'Brien, they have become a fountain of hope, inspiration & wisdom", adds Madeline. With a handful of board members & 501(c) -3 designation from the I.R.S. that marked the birth of Africa Outreach USA Foundation.

Fast forward to 2010, Gus recalls receiving a call from Sharon and she indicated that her dad, Dr. Jack would be in town that evening & wanted to meet him & Madeline to learn more about the basketball developmental program in Zimbabwe. "I don't know about you, but in my opinion, calls like that are simply not a daily occurrence. You just don't come from nowhere & begin interacting with basketball legends, in particular, the likes of Dr Jack" retorts Gus. Meeting Dr. Jack was not only a dream come true for Gus & Madeline & their two children, Gus Jnr & Patty, it was a very special moment in their lives.

The Jack Ramsay Grassroots Basketball Development Initiative, Zimbabwe.

"At first glance, he was very humble and extremely down to earth", remembers Gus. "He had an amazing way of connecting with people from all walks of life with such humility & sincerity. One would never be able to tell that he was a decorated and well accomplished NBA Hall of Famer." Gus recalls how sharp & poised he was, while demonstrating a huge humanitarian heart. After Gus shared the vision of the basketball developmental program in Zimbabwe, Dr. Jack said to him, "young man, you are onto something huge here". He drew a parallel between the NBA Basketball Without Boarders Program with the Africa Outreach USA vision, looked Gus in the eye & asked, "what can I do for you?". Gus kindly requested for the program to be named after Dr. Jack, to which he responded, "your wish is granted". And that marked the birth of the ground breaking & historic first of its kind on the African continent, the Jack Ramsay Grassroots Basketball Development Initiative, Zimbabwe, a moment that will forever hold a special place in Gus & Madeline's lives. At the end of their first meeting, Dr. Jack gave Gus a pat on the shoulder and said, "We will do everything to support & help you achieve your dream".

Following the first meeting, Dr. Jack did exactly what he said he would do, keep his word.He followed up on his promise with a series of teleconference calls to Gus & Madeline in fulfillment of his promise to help train volunteer coaches & empower kids with sound game fundamentals in Zimbabwe. He offered Gus one of his critically acclaimed basketball training DVDs, (UpTempo Basketball) as a benchmark for training volunteer coaches on the ground in Zimbabwe. "I want you to go & give coaches in Zimbabwe a copy of my basketball DVD", he said in his bold voice. With assistance from his son Chris Ramsay, Dr. Jack insisted on setting up a series of questions that have become the benchmark for training & certifying volunteer basketball coaches in Zimbabwe.

The Jack Ramsay Basketball Volunteer Coaches Training Certificate, Zimbabwe

Not only was Dr. Jack excited & open to sharing his professional basketball teaching material with coaches & children, in Zimbabwe, (a country that he had never been to), but he also insisted on giving every trained coach an autographed certificate of their accomplishment. The Jack Ramsay Basketball Volunteer Coaches Training Certificate, Zimbabwe, debut in December, 2013, and more than 200 coaches received certificates in the first of its kind basketball training program.

To spice up the event, Dr. Jack insisted on greeting coaches in the native Shona language at the time of shooting the introductory video filmed by Jake Ramsay, professional videographer, & Tessa Ramsay, voice over specialist, (two of his grand children). Also featured in the video are Sharon & Coach O'Brien. "That defined who Dr. Jack was, a self-less, high achiever & rare individual who never settled for participation but always went all in to win it all & took everything he did to the very top".

In addition, he autographed & donated several copies of his two books, "Dr. Jack on Winning Basketball" & "Dr Jack's Leadership Lessons" for auction to support a fund raiser organized by Gus & Madeline to increase program visibility & raise funding for the 2013 Jack Ramsay Grassroots Basketball Development Initiative, in Zimbabwe. The event, another first, was hosted free of charge by the Pacers Organization in the Pacers Square room, at Banker's Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Jack did not stop there either, he insisted on having one of his books translated into the native Shona language for coaches to use as part of the basketball training curriculum.

The Legacy Lives On

At the celebration of his life, one could not help but notice the family values that Dr. Jack instilled in his family through the lens of his children, grandchildren & relatives. The whole family walked with absolute humility & faith representing the man he was. A man that not only feared God, but walked hand in hand with him, living his life to the fullest and instilling a strong biblical sense of love in his children and grandchildren.