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The students of a Menlo Park basketball coach who recently lost his car decided to raise money to buy him a new one. They’ve set a goal for $17,500 and already raised over $12,000 in just two days.
On Saturday, Jan. 31, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. students are hosting a fundraising car wash at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1105 Valparaiso Ave. in Menlo Park.
Jhavante Hill is a prominent figure in the Menlo-Atherton High School basketball community, according to students. He also coaches the Hillview Middle School basketball team. After his car broke down, he’s been relying on public transportation, rideshares and carpooling to get to games and practices.
Hill shared with his students’ families that he’d recently lost a family member and his car, so his student athletes took it upon themselves to do something to support their coach. Although the car wash is yet to happen, the young athletes already have successfully in raised thousands of dollars, thanks to word-of-mouth via a GoFundMe page.
M-A varsity basketball player Matt Nicholas said he and his friends were inspired to do something to help Hill, given the impact that the coach, has had on many young basketball players in the Menlo Park community.
“I think a big part of what he does is make sure that kids know that he believes in them and their abilities, and a lot of his players soar because of that,” said Nicholas, adding that Hill has “given so much to the basketball community.”
Nicholas said he had been coached by Hill and now, Hill is his younger brother’s coach at Hillview.
“Coaching is definitely not for everyone and I think the way he does it with a lot of care and sacrifice is really impressive and important to all of us,” said Nicholas
The Saturday car wash is in partnership with the Menlo-Atherton Service Learning Center, a student-led club that organizes volunteer projects serving the local community. Students involved said they were optimistic about the success of the fundraiser but surprised to see how much they raised within the first days.
As of Jan. 30, $12,760 had been raised on the GoFundMe page.
For more information on the fundraiser, visit gofundme.com/f/community-car-wash-for-coachs-family-and-car.
