On a hot and humid Wednesday evening, two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash led a host of NBA and professional soccer stars out onto the field for the sixth annual Steve Nash Foundation Showdown, an event to benefit the Steve Nash Foundation’s programs for under-served children. Under-served, not underprivileged, as the foundation’s website is quick to point out, because education and running water are not privileges, they are basic necessities that every child should be equipped with. Thousands were on hand at Sara D. Roosevelt park on the Lower East Side of Manhattan for a chance to take in the eight a side action, get up close and personal with the stars, and support the initiatives of the Steve Nash Foundation.
For the first time in Showdown history, Kappa USA signed on to not only serve as the events official jersey sponsor, but to show support for all of the work Steve Nash and Co. are doing for the kids at home and abroad. Amidst the bumping tunes and throngs of spectators, we caught up with Kappa USA CEO, Puneet Girdhar, to talk Kappa’s heritage in the game, the importance of supporting programs for the under-served, and all things soccer.
Interview by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)
This is actually our first year. The opportunity came about through Lawrence Cann of Street Soccer USA, we connected last year when we were the sponsor for Street Soccer USA. When we were approached about this event we just thought it was perfect, what better way to describe what soccer can really be about? When I looked at it what was interesting about where we were as a brand is considering who are we going to impact today with our philosophies and what we’re going to do, and what’s that going to be in the future? Globally, we have it all covered, we do the teams and everything like that, but what’s really happening here today in the US is also a perspective of where the sport can actually create some social change. With Steve and his foundation, absolutely, we have to put the sport in the power of the kids hands. That’s exciting to me, that’s what it’s about.