Ryan Hicks
Ryan Hicks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 18, 1983 Panorama City, California |
| Nationality | African American |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Occupation | |
| Organization | Ballin’ for Peace |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Relatives |
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| Website | ballinforpeace |
Ryan Hicks (born June 18, 1983) is an African American basketball player and philanthropist. He is best known for his active participation in the Ballin’ for Peace Movement, an NGO operating for the past three decades, organizing entertainment events to uplift the youth of the country.[1]
Ballin’ for Peace Movement was established by Hicks’ father, Kenn Hicks, best known as the Godfather of Streetball, and furthered by Hicks as a legacy. As of 2021, Hicks serves as the At-Risk Youth Program Director of this organization. He is also in charge of the Domestic Violence Prevention Boot Camp.
Hicks, in his career, has won several awards for his excellence in basketball and has also been featured in several media outlets for his philanthropic endeavors. These include CNN, ABC, NBC, Yahoo,[2] Latestly,[3] Daily News,[4] The Philadelphia Sunday,[5] and others.
Early life and education
Hicks was born on June 18, 1983, in Panorama City, California. He is the son of Kenn Hicks, popularly regarded as the Godfather of Streetball and the founder of Venice Beach Basketball Showdown, which was active for two decades. World-renowned NBA and WNBA players participated in this showdown, including Chris Childs, Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, Derek Fisher, and Lisa Leslie, to name a few.
After graduating from Granada Hills High School (where he was a double letterman), Hicks went to the California State University of Northridge, and Kansas Wesleyan University, where he acquired a degree in Communications.
Career
Hicks began his professional career as a basketball player when he was in college. During his time at Kansas Wesleyan University, he was a part of both the basketball and soccer teams. In 2004, Hicks played for UCLA Bruins in the Say No Classic alongside Jordan Farmar and Aaron Afflalo (former NBA players).[6]
Apart from his career as a basketball player, Hicks has also endeavored into philanthropy by establishing the renowned Ballin’ for Peace nonprofit organization.[7] It aims at facilitating positive recreational activities for youth and adults in the community. Since its inception, Ballin’ for Peace has organized numerous programs worldwide, uplifting the underprivileged youth. Many of these events have been endorsed by numerous celebrities and professional athletes through sports and music. Hicks himself has been the executive producer of the three Ballin’ for Peace Mixtapes with multiple artists and DJs such as Tang Clan, Redman, G-Unit, Wu, Dj Felli Fel, Dj Drama, and others. Overall, these projects have accumulated 3,000,000+ streams.
Awards
- Communications Student of the Year, 2004
- Communications Student of the Year, 2005
- Certificate of Appreciation from Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa, 2008
- Marriott Year of Surprises Award Winner, 2014
- City of Philadelphia Citation, 2015
- Hero Among Us Award from the Philadelphia 76ers, 2015
- Kansas Wesleyan University Young Alumnus Award, 2019
Gallery
In the media
References
- ↑ "Ryan Hicks - Co-Founder & Progr.. - Ballin' For Peace | ZoomInfo.com". ZoomInfo. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ↑ "nba legend john salley endorses yahoo". in.search.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ↑ "NBA Legend John Salley Endorses the DJ Magix 'Youth Business Accelerator Program' | 🛍️ LatestLY". LatestLY. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ↑ "Reseda's Ballin' for Peace on Labor Day brings out the best in everyone". Daily News. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ↑ "Ballin For Peace teaches to have a ball without drugs, alcohol or violence". The Philadelphia Sunday Sun. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ↑ Inc, Marriott International. "Marriott International's Industry-Leading Global Creative and Content Marketing Studio Forges Ahead with New Development and Production Deals, Distribution Announcements". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
{{cite web}}:|last1=has generic name (help) - ↑ "Ballin' For Peace NBA All-Star Weekend - Press Release". cdn.filepicker.io. Retrieved 2 November 2021.