Kenyon Martin Foundation holds first camp in Dallas

It's always nice to read about players giving back during the offseason and Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News caught up with Kenyon Martin in Dallas where K-Mart was holding his first camp for the Kenyon Martin Foundation.

Martin launched the Kenyon Martin Foundation in Denver during the season. Monday was his first camp, during which he worked with kids. There was a reception Monday night, which raised money for the local Salvation Army and for Bryan Adams.

"It's been a long time coming," Martin said. "I've been doing stuff every season for other [athletes]. I just thought it was time for me to do my own thing. I've got some great ideas for what I want to get accomplished with it. So why not do it myself?

"This is my home. I'm not doing this for something I heard about. I'm doing it because I grew up here. I know what the kids are going through."

Martin's foundation is administered by The Giving Back Fund, a national nonprofit organization started in 1997 to provide professional philanthropic management. The organization runs foundations for 20 NBA players and more than 75 athletes in all sports.

The article goes on to discuss how Mark Cuban reached out to Martin and all their issues are now in the past. Kenyon also had this to say about the way the Nuggets season ended.

"Everywhere I go, people still say we should have beaten LA – even in LA," Martin said. "It was rough, because in our heart, we feel we're the best team. I don't know if it was experience or what, but it just wasn't meant to be this year. And it's hard to swallow."

ntimmons73@yahoo.com