In Santa Fe, the legacy of former high school basketball standout J.B. White continues to inspire and unite the community. This past weekend, a 3v3 basketball tournament was held at EVO Entertainment as part of the Wear Orange weekend, an initiative aimed at raising awareness about gun violence. The event served as a tribute to J.B. White, who tragically lost his life to gun violence at a house party on August 1, 2020.
Remembering J.B. White
J.B. White was a promising athlete, known for his time as a standout player at Santa Fe High and later as a member of the University of New Mexico Lobos. His untimely death left a void in the community, but his memory lives on through the efforts of his family and the J.B. White Foundation. The foundation, led by White’s grandmother Jude Voss, aims to keep his spirit alive by supporting youth in sports and education.
“Doing this, I started it out of heartache,” said Voss, who also serves as the Executive Director of the J.B. White Foundation. “I didn’t know what to do with J.B.’s love, the love I was receiving for him. So it means a lot to me.” The foundation recently awarded $21,000 in scholarships to students across New Mexico, helping them pursue their athletic and academic dreams.
Community Support and Future Events
The tournament not only honored J.B. White’s legacy but also brought the community together to reflect on the impact of gun violence. Participants and spectators wore orange, a color symbolizing the movement against gun violence. Voss expressed mixed emotions about the event, saying, “I’m happy that kids are loving my son and they’re really happy about wearing his merchandise. But at the same time, I wish I wasn’t doing this or doing this for this reason. I wish that J.B. would have been able to come back and give back to the community, which is something he really wanted to do.”
Looking ahead, the City of Santa Fe will partner with the J.B. White Foundation for another basketball tournament scheduled for July 17-19 at various locations in Santa Fe. This ongoing collaboration underscores the community’s commitment to honoring J.B. White’s legacy while fostering a positive environment for local youth.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
