Posted at 1:03 a.m., Friday, January 18, 2008
NBA: Iverson donates $100,000 to get guns off street
Advertiser Staff
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Allen Iverson donated $100,000 to a program to keep guns off the streets where he grew up.The Denver Nuggets guard donated the money to the Peninsula Community Foundation to help the Newport News Police Department continue its gun buyback program, U.S. Rep. Robert Scott, D-Va., announced in a statement Wednesday.
"I can remember growing up in Newport News and Hampton and if we can prevent one more child from being killed and another family from crying and mourning the death of another loved one, then it is more than worth it," Iverson said in a statement released by Scott's office.
The program offers money or gift cards to residents who turn in guns to police, no questions asked. Residents turned in about 400 guns within hours after the program was launched Dec. 15.
Scott said he was hopeful Iverson's contribution would encourage more donations.
"It is a significant act of philanthropy for a well-intended community-based effort," Scott said.
