Keady Stresses Importance of Family and Education at March Dadness

Focusing on the importance of the family unit, coaching legend Gene Keady, special assistant and advisor to the St. John’s men’s basketball team, was a featured speaker at March Dadness, an event held at Chelsea Piers that used the game of basketball to bring together parents and their children.

The March 3rd affair, hosted by New York City’s Human Resources Administration (HRA) and its NYC Dads program, was part of the mayor’s Fatherhood Initiative, which was created to connect fathers with their children in an effort to strengthen family bonds and community ties.

“Programs like NYC Dads and events like March Dadness are very important,” Keady said. “Fathers need to invest in their children’s future in order for them to have successful lives. It is important that they teach their kids the values of love and family.”

A proud father of three, Keady noted that studying math and science is just as important as practicing your jump shot. “It’s great if you can play basketball really well,” he said to the audience of more than 80 elementary school-aged children and their families. “But you won’t get far without working hard in school and getting an education.”

Keady was accompanied by student managers from the men’s basketball team, including senior manager Ryan Borges who helped run the skills development segment of the event. “Today, we incorporated basketball with an important city mission,” said Borges. “It’s always great to give back to the community and it’s even better to get kids and their dads together. It’s a great feeling.”

Alan S. Farrell, the citywide fatherhood services coordinator, praised both St. John’s and Keady for their participation in the event. “For fathers and their children to see that Coach Keady and St. John’s are here and they care about the cause, they see that our entire city cares,” he said. “Moments like these are what NYC Dads and March Dadness is all about.”