Thousands of basketballs, which were to have been used for a Final Four-related event in downtown Atlanta this weekend, will be given to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta.
The Atlanta Basketball Host Committee said Friday that 3,200 unused basketballs and T-shirts, originally intended for the “Final Four Dribble” kids event, will be donated.
College basketball’s Final Four and its ancillary events were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The semifinals were to have been played Saturday and the championship game Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The local host committee and the NCAA also donated 1,500 uniforms, which were to have been worn by volunteers working Final Four festivities, to 19 City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation centers that have modified their schedules to provide meals to students during school closures. The uniforms, which will be given to adults serving the meals, include a branded polo short, hat and poncho, all bundled in a drawstring bag along with a flashlight.
Despite the cancellation of the Final Four, the host committee said the NCAA's fifth annual "Read to the Final Four" program drew record participation across metro Atlanta. Some 359 elementary schools in 20 counties and 38,600 third-grade students participated in the four-month program, which aimed to improve reading proficiency by providing free access to thousands of books through a digital platform.
“Serving as the host city for the Final Four extends far beyond the games, and it is important we recognize the positive impact on students throughout Georgia from elementary schools to our leading universities,” said Carl Adkins, executive director of the Atlanta host committee. “The activations and attention to detail that went into planning and preparing … is something the entire Atlanta community should be proud of, and we are grateful to have such incredible partners who were there every step of the way.”
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