On Wednesday, February 21, 2024, friends and well-wishers converged at the Felbry College of Nursing on Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio to witness the unveiling of The Mides shoe brand to be donated to children playing basketball, an annual program of the David Tolani Foundation, DTF.

The DTF has partnered with the Polaris Christian Academy and Tree of Life school organising an annual basket camp and donating shoes to the participating children.

“We have donated about 70 Kyrie Irving basketball shoes and about 300 kids had benefited from the weeklong basketball camps annually,” Pastor Sam King, facilitator of the DTF program told the New Americans magazine.

Described as “A Boy who Loved God”, David Tolani, never failed to tell the parents that “heaven is real”.

For Seven years the David Tolani Foundation has continued to host a basketball camp and donate basketball shoes to kids in honor of David Tolani, who passed away at the age of 6years and 8monhts.

Daid Tolani’s mother, Ms. Feyi Tolani on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, told guests at the unveiling of The Mides, a brand name for basketball shoes donated to children who have showcased their love for Basketball and athletics, that “David would have been 14years old today”.

“David’s life and his passing on was not ordinary. At 5years old, David will come to me to ask if I know of a 4years old that went to heaven. I will reply yes. He will tell me heaven is real.”

In continuation of David Tolani’s love for God and others, Ms. Tolani decided to start supporting indigent kids “with the money that would have been used for his school fees and other expenses to support other children and put smile in the faces of other kids.”

Ms. Tolani, other members of the Board of David Tolani Foundation and volunteers in the last seven years have never failed to hold a basketball camp and donate basketball shoes to children at the end to the camp.

Last year, the Foundation decided to extend the support to children in countries outside the United States of America, especially countries in Africa and the Caribbean to “support as many kids as possible that love the game of basketball, pay their school tuition fees and provide them with basketball shoes.”

A village in Kenya has been adopted.

 The Foundation describes David Tolani thus: “David was a boy who loved God.  He had a loving heart that touched everyone he met.  David loved to give, he loved to share what he had.  Everyone who came across him, soon learned how much his love for basketball revolved around everything he did.

“Turning a tragedy into a legacy of strength, our mission is to lead and teach children to know the love of Christ, to build strong Godly character, and to be the catalyst for positive change via the means of a game of basketball.”  

It added that, “David’s passion for the game of basketball was unreal, and his favorite player was Kyrie Irving. He wanted to demonstrate his God-given skill in the NBA like his basketball hero. Much more than that, he wanted to spread God’s love through basketball. Since David could not realize that dream, the foundation organizes Summer Camps to honor this passion.”

Also testifying about David, Judy Hoban said “It has been a pleasure walking alongside your family over the years.  From having fun-loving Daniel in my class during my first year at PCA to having sweet Faith and all of her bubbly-ness.  Then memories of David scampering through the halls and delivering a cheeky smile to Isaac on this way to the drinking fountain still make me smile.  And now, the Tolani foundation has made a very significant impact on dozens of families from the school.  I am so grateful to be a part of what the Lord is doing through this amazing organization.  As Feye so clearly shows when she shares your family’s story each year at the shoe giveaway, you consistently relied on the Lord to show you what He would do with the “mess”, and it is an encouraging and faith-building reminder to all of us.”

On the David Tolani Foundation, Yohanna Hill, Chief Advancement Officer Tree of Life Schools said “It has been such a blessing to see firsthand the profound impact that the David Tolani Foundation has had on our students and families at Tree of Life.  Through tragedy, the Tolani family and the Foundation have beautifully and vulnerably shared David’s story to carry out their calling and the Foundation’s mission to turn loss into a legacy of strength by leading children to know the love of Christ. Thank you for allowing Tree of Life and our students, families, and staff to be a part of what God is continuing to orchestrate through the Foundation and the legacy of David’s impactful life.”

“I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for blessing so many of my students through your foundation.  My families were so very touched by your abundant generosity and the beautiful words of truth you spoke over their children’s lives. You inspired so many of the students and it was a blessing to watch God responding powerfully in their lives,” said Colleen Hoffman, Elementary Principal, Clintonville Campus.

“Your passion for our Lord Jesus inspires us all. For many years, your hard work and insightful vision has been effective in building God’s Kingdom. In amazing and beautiful ways, you have redeemed tragedy by celebrating David’s life through the blessing of the next generation. In doing so, you never fail to give glory to His and call His body higher. Thank you for choosing to pour your kind favor on Tree of Life students. Your family has become a key part of ours.

We are grateful to God for you.,” Todd Marrah Superintendent, Tree of Life Christian Schools

“On behalf of the Sesay Family, I would like to sympathize with your family for the demise of your beloved son, for the bible says in everything let give thanks, we thank God for the years David spent on earth & now he is resting at the bosom of Abraham.

“As parent we were thrilled when informed by the school that our son was nominated as a recipient for the Tolani foundation shoe give-away due to certain qualities he has shown towards others,  Jeremiah 1 v 4-5, it was ordained that through him (David),  the Tolani Foundation will be established and  will be a blessing to so many children in diverse ways, will encourage them to love the Lord even the more , be kind and compassionate to others and indeed it has been so for my son .

As the Tolani Foundation celebrates its 7th anniversary, I pray that God will enable you all to continue the vision, and comfort and strengthen you. I pray that many souls will be won and transformed for the lord and God’s many blessings,” said the Sessay Family. (Pictures by Okon Ekpenyong)

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