Program's stolen hoops replaced with generous donations

Radio station 99 Jamz donates new hoops to Gang Alternative

MIAMI – Sometimes, stories do have happy endings.

When the non-profit program Gang Alternative had two of its basketball hoops stolen from its parking lot on Saturday, a summer of courtyard play seemed doomed. But since the story aired on Local 10, generous viewers have stepped in to help them out.

Lorenzo "Ice-Tea" Thomas and the 99 Jamz crew surprised a group of the organization's kids with two brand new basketball hoops on Thursday.

"We are grateful and thankful. This is an opportunity that God gave us," said student Rhode St. Fort.

The non-profit that is committed to keeping kids in Little Haiti out of gangs and surrounded by positive influences became victim to the kind of hate they are trying to rid their streets of.

"When the hoops were stolen, I was thinking, 'What are these kids going to do?'" asked student Isabelle Saint Jean. 

With the help and outpouring of love from the community, they have plenty of reasons to smile again.

"Thank God that 99 Jamz and Local 10 came and we are just very happy. Thank you!" said St. Ford.

"It feels like a dream. I don't want to wake up," said Ezra Dieuveille, who works with Gang Alternative.

The organization plans to reach out to the kids who stole from them to hopefully build a relationship and use part of their donations to get them their own set of hoops.

"It tells the kids it's always good to fight hate with love. Not only should you be mad of the injustice, yes, but in order to improve our society and our community, we have to fight it with love," said Dieuveille.

Gang Alternative has also received donations from various Facebook users and a manager at Wells Fargo Advisors in Aventura is sending them a check for $1,000.