Sometimes, it all starts with a wish. It especially can mean something when that wish is coming from a child. It can mean even more when said child is homeless and that person’s Christmas is made even a little bit brighter.
That was the case for 14-year old Gabrielle Randall. Carolyn Clifford, a local television reporter for WXYZ-TV ABC 7 Detroit met Randall at a homeless shelter and asked her what she would want for Christmas.
Her response was to meet a WNBA player.
As word spread throughout the community, which included a social media effort by Detroit’s ABC 7, it got to Anthony Cornell—who runs an AAU program at a Detroit gym. When word reached him, he reached out to Aerial Powers’ parents, who agreed to for Randall and family members to meet Powers.
Cornell called it his “assignment from God” to help fulfill Randall’s wishes.
One problem—Randall missed basketball practice, and was somewhat peeved about it. She was not peeved though about meeting the Dallas Wings forward and Michigan State alum.
I tried not to cry when I got the news, cause it was heart warming that I could actually make her dream come true.
–Aerial Powers to WXYZ-TV
If I can do it, the next girl like Gabrielle can do it also.
Randall has also been invited to a basketball camp Powers will hold in Detroit in February.
Now, this is what the Holidays are all about and one of the many reasons they are such a time-honored time of the year. There are those out there that probably will not have a chance to celebrate as well as those where it can be hard to celebrate given the circumstances with their own lives.
It is an example of what happens when a community collaborates to ensure despite those circumstances, it can band together to ensure someone has a Christmas she or he will never forget.
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
