Sports Equipment Donation Drive Held In Memory Of Theater Shooting Victim

DENVER (CBS4) - A nonprofit started in memory of Jessica Ghawi, a young woman killed in the Aurora theater shooting, is now in its third year and held a donation drive at the Pepsi Center on Saturday.

It's helping families with kids interested in sports.

With four boys, Dorettie Ramos had her hands full. Her oldest plays football, and that's just the beginning.

"Edgar plays soccer and Jesus is boxing, so they are all wanting to do different things," Ramos said.

They are just one family benefiting from the nonprofit "A Precious Child."

"We have eight programs and one of those programs is 'giveSports,' which is why we are here today," Courtney Rogers with A Precious Child said.

It's the third year that A Precious Child teamed up with Kronke Sports Charities to collect sports equipment -- all in honor of Ghawi.

"This was something Jessie was starting right before she was murdered," said Sandy Phillips, Ghawi's mother

At the time Ghawi lost her life in the shooting the aspiring sports journalist was trying to collect sports equipment for families who lost everything in Colorado wildfires. Her mother says the athlete loved all sports, especially hockey.

"She loved being on the ice. She couldn't take five steps without tripping over herself, but she would get on the ice and move like a dancer," Phillips said.

Over the last two years the drive has given out more than 40,000 pieces of equipment and 13,000 in scholarships to Colorado children in need.

"We really wanted to honor her name, and what she was trying to do," Rogers said.

They're helping children play the sports they love and finishing the good work Ghawi had started to do.

"We are helping children all over Colorado to be able to participate in sports they would not be able to participate in without these donations," Phillips said.

Avalanche forward Cody McLeod was on hand at the giveSports equipment drive to hand out equipment.

For those who missed out on the drive on Saturday, A Precious Child collects sports equipment and donations year round. Visit apreciouschild.org for more information.

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