THOMASVILLE- On Sunday, Dec. 17, former Florida State University standout and 11-year NBA veteran Charlie Ward returns to Thomasville to host a Holiday Leader Mentorship Basketball Clinic presented by The Charlie and Tonja Ward Family Foundation.

The one-day clinic is designed for children and parents, or other adult mentors, to learn basketball skills and life lessons while sharing in the fun of working together and forming a unique bond. For the past two years, the Ward Family Foundation has hosted a similar Father’s Day Leadership Basketball Clinic in Tallahassee, where Charlie is head coach of the boys varsity basketball team at Florida High.

“I’m excited to bring the Mentor Leadership clinic to my hometown this holiday season,” said Ward. “These clinics are about more than sports. We pair basketball instruction with leadership sessions that aim to help young attendees understand what it takes to be upstanding men and women and how to walk in their destiny.”

Youth character development through sports is one pillar of the Ward Family Foundation, which is dedicated to cultivating a community of lifelong champions and making an impact. The foundation engages in programming that fosters character development and leadership skills based on Christian principles. Participants of the Thomasville clinic will rotate through various stations where they will engage in basketball drills and hear from guest speakers on topics including education, life lessons and motivation.

The holiday clinic, which is open to parents, or other adult mentors, accompanying youth ages 7-18, takes place at Thomas County Central High School on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 2:00 p.m. For more information, or to register, visit charlieward.org/events. Scholarships are available thanks to the generous support of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation.