Tuesday, December 16, 2014

BURNABY, BC – Canadian icon Steve Nash, who went from high school basketball player in Victoria to two-time NBA MVP, will be giving Simon Fraser University an assist as the featured speaker at the 6th annual Gathering of the Clan presented by Canadian Direct Insurance on March 3.

SFU's signature fundraising breakfast has raised over $1.3 million for Clan athletic scholarships since 2010.

The Gathering of the Clan breakfast will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 beginning at 7:00 AM at the Vancouver Convention Centre West.

Early Bird tickets go on sale January 5, 2015 through SFU.ca/athletics and are $180 or $1,800 for a table of 10. After January 30th, tickets will be $200 or $2,000 for a table of 10. All proceeds go to SFU athletic scholarships.

Nash, a two-time NBA MVP (2004-05, 2005-06) and seven-time NBA All-Star, enjoyed his greatest success on the basketball court with the Phoenix Suns.

As a high school basketball player, Nash led the S.M.U. Blue Devils to a 76-48 victory over Pitt Meadows to win the BC High School Boys AAA Provincial Championship. Nash then moved on to Santa Clara University on the only NCAA basketball scholarship offered to him. 

In 2010, Simon Fraser University joined the NCAA and is now the only school in Canada that offers student-athletes full-ride athletic scholarships.

"Our goal at Simon Fraser University is to keep Canadian student-athletes in Canada by giving them access to the NCAA athletic experience and a Canadian education—so they don't have to go to the United States to compete like Steve Nash did," said SFU athletic director Dr. Milton Richards.

 "Everyone is aware of his basketball career but Steve is also a philanthropist, environmentalist and filmmaker and he is going to share his inspirational story at our breakfast."

Through his production company Meathawk, Nash created his first feature film, "Into the Wind," about the life and journey of Terry Fox, to critical acclaim at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival (the feature ran as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series).

On Saturday, Simon Fraser University honoured the memory of Terry Fox, a former student-athlete on the junior varsity basketball team, by raising a banner with his name and No. 4 to the West Gym rafters.

Simon Fraser is the only university in Canada competing in the NCAA, with 17 men's and women's sports competing. The Clan men's basketball team is now coached by Victoria, BC, native James Blake. Nash and Blake are childhood friends.

"Steve and I grew up together on the island and we have been lifelong friends, our families are close," said Blake. "He has been a tremendous supporter of my coaching career and has regularly worked out at SFU during the summers."

Canadian basketball players now compete in Steve Nash Youth Basketball Leagues across Canada.

Nash is currently a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.