MERCED, Calif. - University of California, Merced head men's basketball coach Gary Stewart and the advocacy organization Play Smart Save Lives hosted a Gun Violence Summit in Chicago August 20-21.
Stewart, a founding member of the organization, is on the Board of Directors for the gun prevention/gun violence awareness group.
Play Smart is an advocacy organization comprised of coaches, players, politicians, non-profit organizations, and businesses, focused on ending gun violence. Their mission is to educate, engage, and change the ways guns are stored in homes. Play Smart offers resources to help coaches, players, alumni, and all those who care prevent gun tragedies and heal teams and communities in the aftermath of loss.
Highlights of the two-day summit included:
- A tour of the Barack Obama Presidential Center with Play Smart Save Lives Board Member and Barack Obama Presidential Center Director of Athletics and Sports Leadership Joe Kennedy
- A visit with Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss and Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable prior to the Braves/White Sox game at Rate Field. Weiss and Venable are both active supporters of Stewart's organization.
- A social at Range Restaurant for numerous invited guests, including coaches, athletic administrators, civic leaders, and prominent educators
- A meeting with Former United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
- A meeting with Illinois Secretary of State and Chicago Mayor candidate Alexi Giannoulias
- Attending a Chicago CRED (Create Real Economic Destiny) graduation
Earlier this year, Stewart was a panelist at the Men's Final Four Coaches for Gun Safety Discussion in Indianapolis. Stewart hopes to bring a bigger Play Smart footprint to Merced and the San Joaquin Valley. Click here to visit the Play Smart Save Lives website.
