Greetings, my friends;
As most of you surely know, athletics has been a huge part of my life for decades. Being a student-athlete, from high school through college, and then on to the professional ranks of the NBA, I know the challenges intuitively of what it’s like to be a student-athlete striving toward your dream.
Two of my most intense passions I’ve developed through the years, is (1) a desire to be sure our young students (boys and girls) and student-athletes receive a quality education, and (2) helping and assisting in any way I can for former collegiate and professional athletes to make their transition into “real and every day life. 
With that being the case, I’ve gone out to put together a great team to help support our current generation of young student-athletes (8th grade – college), with the help of a large community of former collegiate and professional athletes, from all sports, who can give their personal insight, real-life experience and expertise on how best for our young student-athletes to navigate the trek they are on, which hopefully, at least, culminates in a college degree.
Our new program is called the Athletes Playbook, an online digital media platform, which will not only include all of the great expertise from former athletes but also have a college planning program and mentoring program to offer as well.
Having young people involved with sports is a great way to develop character, integrity, self-esteem, self-confidence, goal setting, teamwork, lessons of “winning and losing”, of which I have taken all of those traits and continue to live my life with.
I’m asking you personally to join us in supporting the Athletes Playbook. At this phase, we are developing a “beta-test model” which will start out here in Seattle, Washington, and then gradually be able to work with student-athletes from around the country.
Please click here on the Athletes Playbook, for more information about our campaign.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
