Basketball Smiles was birthed in the spring of 1999 when Coach Sam Nichols from McMurry University and Coach Patty Johnson from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas met in San Jose California at the Women ’ s Basketball Coaches Association Convention . A mutual love for basketball and children between these two coaches led to the first Basketball Smiles basketball camps in June 1999 . The vision of Basketball Smiles was born : to conduct free basketball camps for boys and girls of all ages , and , along with basketball instruction , conduct a life skills program for these disadvantaged children emphasizing citizenship , education , and self-discipline . The initial camp had only 75-80 boys and girls in attendance , but it was obvious to Coach Nichols that they were on the right track . After that first year , Coach Nichols developed the motto of Basketball Smiles : “ We bring a week of smiles and hope through basketball .”
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