BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
KOBE BRYANT WAS BORN IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AS THE ONLY SON OF JOE BRYANT
AND PAMELA COX BRYANT. WHEN KOBE BRYANT WAS SIX YEARS OLD, HIS FATHER LEFT THE NBA AND THE
U.S.A AND MOVED HIS FAMILY TO RIETI, ITALY TO CONTINUE PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL. KOBE
BRYANT GOT USE TO HIS NEW LIFESTYLE AND LEARNED TO SPEAK FLUENT ITALIAN AND SPANISH. HE WAS
DRAFTED RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL TO GO TO THE NBA.
CHARITY WORK
KOBE BRYANT AND HIS WIFE VANESSA HAVE WORKED WITH EACH OTHER TO CREATE THE KOBE &
VANESSA BRYANT FAMILY FOUNDATION. HE HAS DONE SO MUCH CHARITY WORK INCLUDING A SNEAKER
AUCTION TO RAISE MONEY FOR SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH, AND A YOUTH HOMELESSNESS
INITIATIVE.
SNEAKER AUCTION
THE KOBE AND VANESSA BRYANT FAMILY FOUNDATION OR KVBFF RAISED $20,000 TO KEEP KIDS
ACTIVE AND ENGAGE IN SPORTS. KVBFF AUCTIONED OFF 8 SHOES WITH THE HELP OF NIKE. THE MONEY
FROM THE AUCTION WILL BENEFIT KIDS IN SPORTS, WHICH PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE SPORTS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE THAN 8,000 UNDERSERVED YOUTH IN LOS ANGELES, IT ALSO ENCOURAGES
COMMUNITY AND FAMILY INVOLVEMENT.
“Each of the Kobe Prelude
Pack shoes was displayed
at Nike Vault along with a
piece of art commissioned
by Nike to represent a
moment in Kobe’s
illustrious career.”
YOUTH HOMELESSNESS INITIATIVE
AS OF 2013 THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 9,000 HOMELESS YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 24
LIVING ON THE STREETS OF LOS ANGELES. MOST OF THEM HAVE ESCAPED ABUSIVE HOMES. THE INITIATIVES
GOAL IS TO ACT ON THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF THE YOUTH BEING HOMELESS IN LOS ANGELES.
KEY
FACTS
ABOUT
HOMELESSNESS
IN
LOS
•
ANGELES
•
75% ARE AGES 18 – 25
25% ARE MINORS 17 AND UNDER
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
40% REPORT THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION AS LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL OR QUESTIONING
42% ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN
25% ARE LATINO
THE AVERAGE MINOR LIVING ON THE STREET HAS BEEN HOMELESS FOR 2.8 YEARS
25% HAVE BEEN ROBBED OR THREATENED WITH A WEAPON WHILE HOMELESS
21% HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF A PHYSICAL ATTACK
13% HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
69% OF HOMELESS YOUTH HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE
27% HAVE EXPERIENCED HATE CRIMES
45% HAVE WITNESSED PHYSICAL ABUSE BETWEEN THEIR PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS
56% REPORTED THEIR PARENTS DRANK HEAVILY
* DATA FROM 2009
MORE KEY FACTS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS
IN LOS ANGELES
•
•
•
•
41% REPORTED THEIR PARENTS USED ILLEGAL DRUGS
•
23% OF YOUTH SURVEYED INDICATED THAT THEY HAD HAD SEX IN THE PREVIOUS 3 MONTHS FOR SURVIVAL. SURVIVAL SEX IS SEX IN EXCHANGE FOR
MONEY, FOOD, OR A PLACE TO STAY
•
•
LESS THAN HALF OF HOMELESS YOUTH ARE CURRENTLY IN SCHOOL
THE AVERAGE MINOR LIVING ON THE STREET BECAME HOMELESS AT AGE 14
48% OF YOUTH REPORTED INVOLVEMENT WITH CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES
40% REPORTED HAVING BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME BY CPS, AT THE AGE OF 9 ON AVERAGE NEARLY HALF OF THE YOUTH SURVEYED MET THE
CRITERIA FOR CLINICAL DEPRESSION AND 18% MET THE CRITERIA FOR POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
53% OF HOMELESS YOUTH OVER 18 DID NOT HAVE A GED OR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
* DATA FROM 2009