Xtreme Giveback makes Family Fun Day even bigger and better this year at MLK Park

by Raymond Whitley

Xtreme-Giveback-Family-Fun-Day-crowd-MLK-Park-081217-by-Kareem-Baker-web-300x225, Xtreme Giveback makes Family Fun Day even bigger and better this year at MLK Park, Local News & Views
Bayview Hunters Point, the neighborhood surrounding Martin Luther King Park, where Family Fun Day was held this year, was solidly Black for decades and is now gentrifying rapidly. Many newcomers, however, are not the usual gentrifiers – upscale, white and sometimes hostile – but are also low income people of color. Everyone was welcome at Family Fun Day! – Photo: Kareem Baker

Xtreme Giveback is a non-profit that reaches out to children, youth, families and community needs through educational, health and family events. Our goals are to build strong communities and families.

Xtreme-Giveback-Family-Fun-Day-1000-backpacks-MLK-Park-081217-by-Raymond-Whitley-web-300x300, Xtreme Giveback makes Family Fun Day even bigger and better this year at MLK Park, Local News & Views
More than 1,000 backpacks were given away to happy kids at Family Fun Day. But before they were moved to MLK Park that day, children helping to get ready took a minute to bury themselves in the huge pile of backpacks. What fun! – Photo: Raymond Whitley

What is important is family, friends and giving back to your community and finding meaning in life. And that’s exactly what it was on Saturday, Aug. 12, at our Second Annual Family Fun Day event held this year at MLK (Martin Luther King) Park and Swimming Pool.

With the help of three lovely, strong mothers – Belinda Rollins, Jasmine Whitley and Karche Lindsey – and a team of young brothers – Antonio Jones, Robert Harrison, Wade King-Gallman, Cleashaun Harold Hill, Damien Posey, Ayinde Bell Stampp, Brandon House, Kareem Baker and myself – we were able to give out more than 1,000 backpacks and give kids a day of family fun and a memorable weekend before going back to school.

Our Family Fun Day last year on Aug. 13 was a smaller event, our very first event that was local – held at Shoreview – for our kids in AIMCO residences. But so many people came, we had to do it again in a larger location.

We feel that kids nowadays have very much to deal with that causes other things they shouldn’t get into. So our team came up with a bunch of ideas to create some type of fun event where the kids can start enjoying their summer time off. That’s why we created Family Fun Day.

Xtreme-Giveback-Family-Fun-Day-crowd-seated-MLK-Park-081217-by-Kareem-Baker-web-300x225, Xtreme Giveback makes Family Fun Day even bigger and better this year at MLK Park, Local News & Views
Xtreme Giveback hauled huge bouncers and backpacks and school supplies for the children to MLK Park for Family Fun Day and also brought chairs for the adults to watch the fun. – Photo: Kareem Baker

This second annual event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of other organizations like United Playaz, City Eats, T.U.R.F, CleasKitchen and local musicians like TJG, Gval and Lil Yee.

Our goal as a community is to build – starting with our families – with more events that can get the communities together.

Community activist Raymond Whitley can be reached at xtremegivebacksf@gmail.com.

Xtreme-Givebacks-Family-Fun-Day-young-men-organizers-MLK-Park-081217-by-Kareem-Baker-300x300, Xtreme Giveback makes Family Fun Day even bigger and better this year at MLK Park, Local News & Views
Xtreme Giveback’s team of upstanding young men who made Family Fun Day happen are, from left, Antonio Jones, community activist; Robert Harrison, personal trainer; Wade King-Gallman, social worker; Cleashaun Harold Hill, chef with Clea Kitchen; Damien Posey with United Playaz, community activist; Ayinde Bell Stampp, musician and activist; Raymond Whitley, community activist; Brandon House, musician and activist; and Kareem Baker of City Eats. – Photo: Kareem Baker
Xtreme-Giveback-Family-Fun-Day-Raymond-Whitley-organizes-backpack-giveaway-MLK-Park-081217-by-Kareem-Baker-web-300x300, Xtreme Giveback makes Family Fun Day even bigger and better this year at MLK Park, Local News & Views
Raymond Whitley and his wife, Karche Lindsey, encourage youngsters to line up for their backpacks – a hard job, says Raymond, laughing. – Photo: Kareem Baker