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Making A Difference Laurel The Leader Laurel D’Antoni leads the Suns Wives Charities with the same passion and determination and success as her head coach husband. Suns’ head coach Mike D’Antoni is to his team, as his wife Laurel is to the Phoenix community: an inspiring leader with a huge heart, unique style, and a penchant for not taking ‘no’ for an answer. Because of her position, she has the ability to touch a lot of lives in a positive way, and that’s exactly what she does as head of the award-winning Suns Wives Charities, a branch of the Phoenix Suns Community Relations Department. |
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Giving back isn’t a hobby for Laurel, or something feels she has to do, it is literally something that is in her blood. Years ago, her grandmother provided her with an amazing example of sacrifice, when she retired from a career as a teacher to join the Peace Corps and move to Brazil. "I learned at a young age that everyone has the power to make change. I am lucky to have the power to effect change through the Suns." Ask her who the women of Suns Wives Charities are, and she’ll first tell you who they are not. "These are not bonbon women," she says. "These are all smart, interesting women. They’re leaders." The Suns Wives are made up of wives and significant others of Suns players, coaches and senior-level front-office staff members, and they are, as you can imagine a diverse, motivated and powerful group. Laurel manages the group by e-mail, sending requests for assistance or notes on the next project electronically. Members of the group take on clearly defined projects with objectives that support reputable local non-profits. The Suns community relations department is regarded throughout the NBA as the flat out best in the league, and they provide assistance to Laurel by reviewing the organizations and projects she wants the wives to partner with or participate in. "We recognize that a modern day athlete’s wife of the 2000s is running a family, working, giving back to her kids’ school, her husband’s own charities, being an active fan … and of courts there is always the downside is that your husband can be traded in seconds." Despite their full schedules, most wives in the group do make the time to actively participate. They understand that they have a special place in the community, a special ability to get things done because of what their husband does for a living. "It’s all about being a champion on the court and a champion in the community, Laurel said." The women divvy up the work based on what they’re most interested in – whether it’s working the phones to promote their upcoming book drive, or reading stories that are recorded and played back to kids of non-English speaking parents. Each year around the Holidays, the wives produce an item that is sold in the Suns Gift Shop and at other various spots around the community. "We make these items have a purpose – they’re fun, but they also promote interaction between parents and kids." Several years ago, they created a wooden puzzle of the team standing in front of the Coliseum in Rome, Italy, a photo taken when the Suns had part of their training camp in Italy, the country Laurel and Mike met. The puzzle came in a can that was designed with a slot at the top of the can, so after the puzzle was emptied the can would have a dual purpose as a piggy-bank. And inside the can was a handout with anti-smoking messages for parents to communicate to their kids. The whole project was underwritten by the Arizona Department of Health Services, and proceeds went to local charities that help children. The puzzle sold for $10, and was priced at that level "so kids could buy the bank themselves, and know that they money was going to charity. It’s a way for them to learn social responsibility," Laurel explained. The project the group is working diligently on now is Suns for Smiles, a promotion that launched on Valentines Day. D’Antoni negotiated a partnership with two local dentists who are offering teeth-whitening at the discounted price of $300 – all of which goes to charity. In addition to their work on behalf of Suns Wives Charities, most of the wives also give back on their own, through their husbands’ personal foundations or programs with their children’s schools. "If we get together and somebody says, ‘I’m walking for this charity,’ we’ll step up as a group and write a check, or we’ll get out and walk and participate with the event. We’re a network," says D’Antoni. As a former model, who has been married to Mike when he’s been a star player and now successful, famous head coach, Laurel says it is important for the women to support each other because of their unique lifestyle. "It’s hard to be a family person and be in the entertainment industry." As for free time for her and Mike during the season? Well, it’s about as rare as a Steve Nash slam dunk. When the Suns made the trade for Shaq back in February, it forced Laurel and Mike to cancel the one weekend getaway they are able to take during the season. It was going to be two nights at the Wynn casino and resort in Las Vegas over NBA All-Star Weekend, when there are no regular season games scheduled. But instead, it turned into a weekend of working out Shaq. During the season, date nights for her are watching her husband coach a game. "For me, what’s important is that people see we’re a very grounded organization. People see the big money of the NBA, but they need to recognize that these guys all have a conscience." Laurel says that when the Suns look at players they want to add to their roster, they pursue those with great character who understand the importance of being socially responsible part of the community. It follows that their wives or significant others will, too. "I am really proud of how much time and how much effort the wives put in – it’s not like this in every NBA organization." Just as the Suns are a strong partner in efforts of Suns Wives Charities, so are Valley residents. "I never get ‘no’ for an answer. People in this town are great at saying ‘what if?’ and finding a way. It makes my job so much easier because when I reach out people are not afraid to help." Another one of Laurel’s personal favorites when it comes to responses from people when it comes to a response to help, is "We know someone ..." That line has helped the Wives Group build an annual book drive that brings in more than 10,000 books each spring. It’s happening again soon, too, and you can help out. Fans are asked to drop off new or gently-used books at US Airways Arena on April 6. For every book donated, fans receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win merchandise and other prizes. Proceeds from the drive are shared with up to 20 local non profit groups, including Save the Family. "The books are like gold for these kids," Laurel said. And if you ask Laurel why she spends so much of her time giving back, you’ll get a quick response. "What we do is little compared to what the non-profits do every day." Then, after a moment of reflection and a time to think, you realize just what an inspiring and insightful woman she is: "It’s all about perspective. No matter how much you have, there’s always someone with more. But there’s always, always someone with less. And that’s why we do what we do. It’s not because we have more. It’s because so many have less." And the Valley is lucky to have Laurel D’Antoni coaching and leading the Phoenix Suns’ Wives Charities. |
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