Derek Levine's Bar Mitzvah Project

A Bar Mitzvah is a Jewish coming-of-age ceremony that marks when a boy becomes a Jewish adult.  A Bar Mitzvah project is a way to reinforce their commitment to improving the world in accordance with Jewish teachings.  In celebration of Derek's Bar Mitzvah, we are supporting the Geo Baker Go Beyond Foundation.

An Interview with Derek:

What does basketball mean to you? Basketball means everything to me. Ever since I started playing, I knew it would be what I wanted to do. This really is my life. Thanks to basketball, I have met great new friends, great coaches, or experienced the excitement of playing with people. It's super exciting to see yourself improve, and it’s just my favorite thing ever.

What inspired you to play basketball in the first place? I watched NBA games with my dad and played Rec for my town with my dad as my coach. I love Rutgers basketball and watched Geo on TV and joined the Rutgers summer camp 2 years ago. After it was over, I asked how I can continue to get better, and they told me to reach out to Geo Baker. The rest is history. My mom played high school basketball, and my dad didn’t play much but he’s really good. I want to keep that reputation. Also, the New York Knicks have really inspired me. I want to become a basketball player of my own, and I would love to play for them one day.

Why and how does Geo inspire and motivate you? Geo inspired me by how he is so hardworking, dedicated, and confident at all times. He’s an amazing coach, player, and a person overall. He’s motivated me on the fact that he never gave up, and how he’s one of the hardest workers I know. He does everything he can to help me get to the best of my ability. He makes me want to do better - I always feel like I learn something new from him, and he keeps me feeling positive about myself and the game.

Why did you choose this charity? I chose the Geo Baker Go Beyond Foundation because Geo is a great trainer, and I want to raise money for his foundation to allow kids less fortunate than myself to have the opportunity to learn from him.  I want to give back to the world and community for giving me such a great life. Everyone deserves a mentor like Geo.

About the Geo Baker Go Beyond Foundation

MISSION

The Geo Baker Go Beyond Foundation aims to bridge the opportunity gap among youth in underserved communities by providing athlete-driven service programs and training designed to unlock their greatest potential on and off the court, through charitable acts and partnerships.

PILLARS

Social Repsonsibilty : Harness the power of athletes who wish to give back to the community, and teaching our youth to do the same, thus impacting positive change.

Mentorship: Equip youth with the tools and strategies needed to boost confidence, respond to adversity, resilience, overcome obstacles, and achieve greater success in all areas of life.

Education: Support the development and growth of students to foster success in the classroom and in life, laying the foundation for future academic achievement, as well as financial literacy, mental health and physical wellness.

Athletic Development: Provide training for youth to grow and develop, using knowledge from playing at the highest level, putting student-athletes in the best position to succeed on and off the court.