Nichols talks about ‘Smiles’

By Kathy Thomson

KTAB weatherman Sam Nichols was the guest lecturer at one of the Albany Lions Club weekly meeting in December, but he wasn’t there to talk about the weather.

Nichols, who retired from a very successful career as a basketball coach, including 12 years as the head women’s basketball coach at McMurry University, where his team made four NCAA post-season appearances including making it to the “Sweet 16” in 2007, wasn’t really there to talk about basketball either.

Instead, he told the Lions Club members about the charity he founded in 1997, Basketball Smiles, and the impact the organization is having on underprivileged youth living in the inner city areas of the Bahamas.

“Sam and his wife have been involved in the program for the past 20 years, going to the Bahamas for one week every summer to put on free basketball camps,” said Lions Club officer Janna Ledbetter. “He said that a friend of his took him over there the first time, and they had six basketballs and about 30 children that year. Since then he has gone back every year.”

The campers are taught how to play basketball, but the real purpose of the camps is all about teaching the children self-esteem and values, according to Ledbetter.

“Their goal is to bring the children up and out of the vicious cycle of poverty that is all around them,” she said. “Sam works to motivate the kids to attend school and to work to improve their life.”

Last year, 300 youth attended the camp.

Some of Nichols’ former camp members now return to the camp to help mentor younger campers. 

“One alumni, Serena Brown, just got her Aggie Ring,” said Ledbetter, “and her younger sister is an outstanding student at Valley City University. Both were still in primary school when they started attending Basketball Smiles.”

Not only has the number of children risen over the years, so has Nichols’ impact.

Nichols’ wife, Sandy, seems to see a new need every year or two, according to Ledbetter.

Each of the campers is provided with water, ice, and a nutritious meal each day.

Every year the children are each given a t-shirt, school supplies, a school backpack, and a basketball.

And now Nichols’ wife has added another item to the list of things that the campers need.

“They need shoes,” she told her husband. “I’m tired of seeing these children coming to camp and playing without shoes.”

Nichols didn’t disagree. He doesn’t like to see the kids wearing only flip flops, sandals, shoes that are too small, or even playing on the asphalt courts in bare feet, but the enormity of the problem seemed too large.

“Honey, Honey, do you know how many kids there are?” Nichols asked his wife.

Her answer was typical for her, he said.

“It doesn’t matter; they need shoes,” she replied.

So Nichols is seeking funding that will enable him to supply shoes to all of the children who attend Basketball Smiles camp this summer.

Ledbetter said that although he didn’t actually ask the Lions for a donation, the need was presented, and the club donated toward the cause.

“We always take care of Albany first,” said Ledbetter. “But after our successful fundraiser at Cisco this year, it was wonderful to be able to help.”

Ledbetter added that all of the volunteers who help with Basketball Smiles, including Nichols, pay their own way, so all of the donated money goes to help the youth.

She added that Basketball Smiles was one of 25 non-profit organizations that were included in Abilene’s 2019 Holiday Giving Guide.

“It’s a good thing anytime that you can help someone,” Ledbetter concluded.

For more information on Basketball Smiles or to donate, go to basketballsmiles.wordpress.com.