GIL Basketball Academy celebrates 12 years at Toro Park

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) Gil Basketball Academy, a youth organization whose mission is to empower children through athletic ability, celebrated 12 years of promoting the sport of basketball and assisting in the development of student-athletes Saturday.

Parents came by to celebrate the creation of the non-profit organization aimed at helping youth in East Salinas. The organization services children as young as 4 years old to 17 years old.

The organization was founded by Jose Gil and Eva Silva in 2009.

“We wanted to start an organization that could provide some positive activities for kids in the community. Something that kids can have early on… where they can get some, of course, you know skills going in basketball but it’s become much more than that," said Silva.

The organization started off as a league but eventually branched into an academy complete with exchange programs to places like Costa Rica and New Zealand.

With donations, grants, fundraisers, the founders want to make sure that the organization is affordable for each child that wants to participate.

"Our number one priority not only for us but for the board in general and our volunteers, is to make sure that this is affordable for all kids so that the economics isn’t a factor," said Silva.

For students, they say they've enjoyed their experience with the academy.

"GBA feels like a family... hundreds of students, hundreds of athletes, and it's pretty amazing to see the bond," said Gerladiae Sierra, a participant in the program.

Because of COVID-19, they've had to do their classes online but now they're excited to start their Fall league and mentor/mentee program.