Nominations for the NAMIC Vision Awards, recognizing news and entertainment leaders committed to producing multi-ethnic and culturally-relevant programs, were announced last week, and Enough was excited to learn that the ESPN Deportes feature highlighting the Darfur Dream Team is up for an award.
The 6-minute feature documents the story of Houston Rockets star Tracy “T-Mac” McGrady’s trip to Darfuri refugee camps in eastern Chad with Enough’s John Prendergast and Omer Ismail. In addition to interviews and NBA clips, ESPN Deportes utilized footage from the trip taken by filmmaker Josh Rothstein for his feature-length documentary 3 Points.
The visit to the Darfuri refugee camps inspired McGrady and Prendergast to launch the Darfur Dream Team’s Sister Schools Program, which pairs U.S. schools with 12 schools in the camps. Through a partnership with the U.N. refugee agency, U.S. schools participating in the program raise funds to build, refurbish, and equip schools for children who have been displaced from their homes in Darfur.
ESPN’s coverage of the program last May helped propel the Darfur Dream Team into the spotlight, where it has now gained the support of other NBA stars, many more students, and even caught the eye of President Obama at a recent basketball game. More than 350 U.S. schools and universities have signed up for the program, and more than $400,000 in donations and pledges have been received since the program’s launch just one year ago.
Congratulations to the team at ESPN Deportes for its nomination. The NAMIC Vision Awards ceremony will take place in Beverly Hills, California on April 22.