By Quibian Salazar-Moreno 
Minnesota Lynx player Charde Houston has only been in the WNBA for a couple of seasons but she's adamant about making a difference when she can. She recently reached out to Aiyanna Bardwell, an 11-year-old girl whose mother was allegedly murdered by her father back in November. Aiyanna and her little brother, 8-year-old Tabari Strong, were left homeless because of the incident.
"I've been through some tough things in my life, but this exceeds anything I've been through," Houston told the San Antonio Express-News. "When you face hardship, I know how important it is to have supporters around you."
Houston immediately went to work e-mailing Aiyanna's basketball coach, Theresa Nunn, telling her help was on the way. Using Twitter, Houston organized a fund-raising drive for Aiyanna and her brother, raising almost $3,000 in a little more than a month.
Houston had planned to meet with Aiyanna and her basketball team at a San Antonio restaurant, but her flight was grounded at the last minute. Instead, she called Aiyanna, Tabari (who is pictured smiling and listening during the phone call below) and the team (also pictured below) and was put on speaker phone as everyone cheered
"I was in tears this morning at the airport," Houston said. "I told them that their Christmas presents are in the mail, and I can't wait to see them."
She promised Aiyanna and her team tickets to the next Minnesota Lynx-San Antonio Silver Stars game in June. In the meantime, Aiyanna and her brother are living with their grandmother (pictured above, on the left) and have received support from the local community and parents of her teammates.
"I was in tears this morning at the airport," Houston said. "I told them that their Christmas presents are in the mail, and I can't wait to see them."
She promised Aiyanna and her team tickets to the next Minnesota Lynx-San Antonio Silver Stars game in June. In the meantime, Aiyanna and her brother are living with their grandmother (pictured above, on the left) and have received support from the local community and parents of her teammates.
"I was in tears this morning at the airport," Houston said. "I told them that their Christmas presents are in the mail, and I can't wait to see them."
She promised Aiyanna and her team tickets to the next Minnesota Lynx-San Antonio Silver Stars game in June. In the meantime, Aiyanna and her brother are living with their grandmother (pictured above, on the left) and have received support from the local community and parents of her teammates.
