Ever since the tragic demise of basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi in a helicopter crash, his wife Vanessa has been tirelessly working for underserved kids through her family foundation. To commemorate her daughter, she also renamed the foundation from the Mamba Sports Foundation to Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation adding Gigi to the legacy. In addition to their welfare work, the 41-year-old philanthropist further contributed to the basketball community while honoring Gigi on her birthday week.
Vanessa, who shared the birthday week with Gigi, celebrated her 41st birthday on Friday. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, and WNBA star Candace Parker wished her on the big day. Additionally, 20-year-old Natalia Bryant penned a heartfelt note to her mother on social media. She wrote, “You’re so beautiful, inside and out.”
Kobe Bryant’s wife Vanessa contributes to LA youths
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Late NBA legend Kobe Bryant represented the Los Angeles Lakers throughout his NBA career and his wife still continues to contribute to the city. On the occasion of Gigi’s 17th birthday, the Bryant family’s foundation organized a Skills Academy Basketball camp at the University of Southern California for the young boys and girls of LA. Vanessa took to her Instagram and shared a group photo of the youth at the Skills camp and several other pictures from the event. The caption of the post read, “I’m grateful to @coachlindsayg and the entire @uscwbb team for helping us show the young boys and girls we invited from local #LA community.”
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Further, in the caption, she excitedly mentioned interviewing her daughters, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri.
READ MORE – Vanessa Bryant Welcomes a New Member to Kobe Bryant’s Adorable Family
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Apart from honoring Gigi on her birthday week, she also penned down an emotional note to her on her birthday. On her Instagram handle, Vanessa wrote, “Happy 17th birthday, baby girl. I love you and miss you so much, sweet Angel.”
Bryant family’s further contributions to LA youths
Apart from helping the youths to improve their balling skills, Kobe Bryant also wanted to lift the livelihood of the homeless youths. When the non-profit organization, “My Friend’s Place”, went through a financial crunch, Kobe and Vanessa stepped in to support the organization. According to the NGO’s executive director, Heather Carmichael, the Bryant family also helps the NGO with clothing, housing, and health supplies for 1000+ youths every year.
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It is heartwarming to see Vanessa and her kids work diligently to keep Kobe and Gigi’s legacy alive through their noble work.