NBA star Kyrie Irving hasn’t forgotten where he’s come from.
The Cleveland Cavaliers guard graduated from St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, NJ in 2010, but he’s still giving back to the school (which is now the nondenominational Patrick School) in big ways.
According to Adam Zagotia at ZagsBlog, Irving is covering the cost of 12-year-old Spencer Joyner’s tuition, which is $11,000 a year.
“It made me feel really good and lucky to have one of my favorite players do that,” Spencer told ZagsBlog.
Joyner was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri, a condition whose symptoms mimic those of a brain tumor. Joyner suffers from severe migraines and a swelling of the optic nerve, which eventually results in vision loss. The pain is so bad that Joyner was hospitalized for a week late last year.
Joyner has never met Irving, but his presence is certainly felt.
During Spencer’s time in the hospital, Mel said one of the family’s medical bills for $1,200 “disappeared somehow,” and he suspects Irving may have paid for that, too. “That mysteriously disappeared,” Mel said. “We were putting two and two together and said, ‘Maybe it’s [Irving].” (ZagsBlog)
Irving has been giving back to his alma mater in more ways than one, too. He paid for the funeral of a 14-year-old who collapsed and died last year after playing basketball. He also donates athletic apparel and equipment to the basketball team.
“I am very proud of the rapid success Kyrie has achieved on the court, but I am even more proud of and very grateful for how committed and loyal to The Patrick School community he has remained,” school principal Chris Chavannes said. He has taken his great accomplishments and the rewards that come from them and shared them with those in need.”
Irving is an all-star in more ways than one.
