The goal was to teach skills and improve the self-esteem of underserved youth. He realized how narrow the environment was for many kids in his hometown and wanted to make a difference in their lives. “Hutch” had just returned from playing basketball very successfully at Vanderbilt University and in the NBA.
The kids who were already waiting drifted over and had their attendance marked and slipped on a purple or gold t-shirt.įor 23 summers the Willie “Hutch” Jones Sports Clinic has provided activities like basketball, soccer, dance, chess, golf, tennis, and academic tutoring, to the youth of Buffalo and near by communities for free! The Clinic was started in 1984 by Willie “Hutch” Jones and two friends attorney/artist LeRoi Johnson Esq., and Bernard Mitchell. Like a well-run machine they arrived at Woodlawn Park off Ferry Avenue and unloaded coolers, bags of shirts and balls, and clipboards.
