UTEP, NBA great Tim Hardaway Sr. was in El Paso this past weekend
Former UTEP and NBA star Tim Hardaway Sr. was in El Paso this weekend, according to an Instagram post Monday by the legendary basketball player.
“Had a great time in my old stomping grounds in El Paso,” Hardaway wrote. “Great event El Paso Children Hospital. Great event Saturday with Icon Talks, with Aaron Jones the great running back for the Green Bay Packers. The El Paso Mayor, and all my friends and boys. Had a blast family. Peace and Love until next time.”
The point guard went 14th in the first round of the 1989 NBA draft, chosen by Golden State, and was a five time NBA All Star and five time All NBA Team member, and a gold medalist in the 2000 Olympics.
He is a member of the Class of 2022 joining the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
The NBA great was joined by Aaron Jones of the Green Bay Packers at El Paso Children’s Hospital as they met with patients, families and employees.
The philanthropic supporters Icon to Ican x Music Beats Heart, Lil Jay and Jones' All the Way Foundation partnered with the El Paso Children's Hospital Foundation and EPCH for the visit, which included giving patients iPads, Beats Pills and toys.
"We are excited to visit El Paso Children’s Hospital and hopefully bring some light to the kids and families! There is nothing like reaching into the darkness and pulling somebody into the light" Elie Maroun, founder of Music Beats Hearts, said in a news release.
“It is our pleasure to work with these groups to put a smile on these kids face,” said John Hartsfield, co-founder of Icon to Ican charitable organization and an El Paso native. “I am glad to come back to my hometown and give back.”
Maroun said: “The team at El Paso Children’s Hospital has been incredible to work with. They truly care about patients and making sure the hospital experience is a special one! We are excited to build a long-term partnership with the hospital and hopefully help build a new music room at EPCH.”
Maroun is referring to a renovation project at EPCH, which will create a new music room for the children to have an escape and be in a positive and fun environment.
The two legends, Jones and Hardaway, were honored with other El Paso leaders as Visionary Awardees on Saturday by Icon Talks, a platform co-founded by Hartsfield, at the Hotel Indigo, 325 N. Kansas St.
In the news release, Hartsfield praised the two, saying they “always remember their roots in El Paso and continue to give back to the community.”
El Paso community leaders also received a Visionary Award.
Mayor Oscar Leeser and El Paso Children’s Hospital CEO, Cindy Stout were recognized for their leadership.
“These are incredible leaders and we are happy to honor them,” Hartsfield said.
Hartsfield co-founded the platform ICONTALKS in 2015 as a platform and speaker’s series that highlights icons in various industries and provides them with a platform to tell their story.
The mission of Icon Talks is to provide engaging content that is not only entertaining but inspiring, according to the news release.
Icon to Ican is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in San Antonio.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: NBA great Tim Hardaway, NFL star Aaron Jones helped kids in El Paso
