From Dan, Chairman of the Board
Where do I begin?
Creators of Hope has shown me just how powerful one small gesture can be. I’ve had the privilege of seeing lives change when our teams come down and give their all to build a house that becomes a place of peace and safety.
If you know us, you’ve probably heard us mention our love for the show Ted Lasso. Well, one of my favorite scenes echoed in my mind during my time in Treasure Beach (more on that below).
It’s hard to put into words what I was able to experience by simply showing up and being ready to give whatever was asked of me. Let me share a brief story from the PMBL camp that I’ll never forget…
Each morning, the camp kicked off with a big open practice session. Kids and coaches spread out across the courts, warming up, doing drills, and just enjoying the atmosphere. The kids aged 12 and younger were on one side, and the older kids on the other. I was assigned to coach the 13-and-up group.
On day two, a little boy came up and gently grabbed my arm. He couldn’t have been more than eight or nine years old. Like so many kids, he had that sweet and innocent expression that seemed to say, “Hi there, mister adult, I need your help with something.”
The young boy looked up at me, and I asked, “Hey buddy, what’s up?” Without hesitation, he replied, “Is Coach Mark here?”
Now, what you have to understand is that this is my first time attending PMBL’s camp, and I have no idea who Coach Mark is at this point. 😂
I had met many people at this point and I didn’t recall meeting any Coach Mark, I thought to myself. Maybe he remembered a Coach Mark from last year? I replied, “I’m not sure who Coach Mark is, buddy. Do you know what he looks like?”
Let me pause here and fully acknowledge it was a bit ridiculous to ask an eight-year-old Jamaican boy to describe what a coach from North America looks like, especially when we all pretty much look the same and are wearing identical shirts that say “Coach.”
I digress… the camper was obviously confused by my silly question. Seeing this, I asked him for his name, as the veteran coaches taught us. He introduced himself as Deshaun and told me, with great confidence, that Coach Mark had been his coach the day before.
Then, he pulled me in the direction of the younger campers’ court so we could look for him together.
And then came a moment I’ll never forget.
Deshaun spotted a coach sitting on a bench, tying his shoes. He immediately let go of my hand and took off running toward him. In my head, I thought, “That must be Coach Mark!”
What followed was one of the sweetest, most human moments I’ve experienced in all my years of coming to Jamaica. And though it’s hard to fully capture in words, I’ll do my best.
Deshaun stopped a few steps away from the coach, tapped him gently on the arm, and Coach Mark turned around to see him. His face lit up with a huge smile, and he greeted Deshaun with a high five.
Deshaun sat beside Coach Mark as he tied his shoes, chatting away with the kind of joy that only a kid can radiate.
Stupidly, I thought this was a great opportunity to try and discreetly capture a really impactful piece of content. I pulled out my phone and hit what I thought was the record button… and missed the moment entirely. Turns out I was so lost in the moment that I never actually pressed record.
But maybe that was how it was meant to be. I wasn’t watching through a screen. I was fully present, watching it with my own eyes. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t hit me right in the heart.
Here was this young boy, who had no idea who I was, completely captivated by a grown man from another country whom he had just met the day before. He looked at him like he was his hero.
It was beautiful to witness.
And the most incredible part? That whole interaction came from one single gesture of encouragement the day before.
After Deshaun finished his gleeful conversation with Coach Mark, he darted off to play with the rest of the kids. It was at this point that Mark noticed me, some bozo Canadian, walking up, holding his phone and trying to be Mr. Content Creator.
So, I introduced myself and explained what had just happened. I told him that Deshaun had come looking for him, that I was new to PMBL camps and didn’t know who Coach Mark was yet, and that I had tried to capture the cool moment on video.
We shook hands, and Mark thanked me for helping Deshaun. Then he shared a story from the day before, explaining why Deshaun was so intent on finding him. It stopped me in my tracks. In the moment, it took everything in this 41-year-old adult man to hold back tears.
During the first day of camp, Deshaun had been in Coach Mark’s group and asked him an innocent and honest, but profoundly impactful question: “Coach Mark, do you believe in me?”
As Mark explained to me, he answered, “Of course I do, buddy!”
I mean, is there anything better than that? Just a few words, but they meant everything. It was a gentle but strong and passionate reminder to a young boy who just wanted the reassurance and confidence every child deserves.
For the rest of the camp, Deshaun would regularly look over at Coach Mark when he needed a reminder. And each time, Mark would meet his eyes and silently mouth the same words: I believe in you.
After sharing the story, Mark and I talked more about what had brought each of us to Treasure Beach. He told me he’s volunteered with PMBL for over a decade, and he’s not the only one. This is the norm for the majority of the PMBL’s coaches who return to volunteer every summer, giving their heart to serve the children of Jamaica and the Treasure Beach community.
I walked away with that feeling we all know, the sense of, “Wow. That’s what it’s all about.”
A few moments later, I shared with another veteran coach about what I had witnessed. He nodded and informed me that “Coach Mark” is actually NBA referee Mark Lindsay. Sure enough, Mark has officiated over 900 regular season games, 31 playoff games, and the 2023 NBA All-Star Game.
And here he was, on a basketball court in Treasure Beach, reminding a little boy that someone believes in him.
“Coach” – PMBL’s Favourite Word
Now… while Mark’s resume as a 16-year NBA referee is impressive, what I gathered is that his favorite title is Coach Mark. That’s what the PMBL camp does. That’s what Treasure Beach does. That’s what Deshaun and so many other kids are really looking for.
Not perfection. Not a celebrity. Just someone who will show up, offer encouragement, and believe in them.
At Creators of Hope, we strive every day to live up to our name and create hope where there once was none.
At the PMBL camp, I learned something that I’ll carry forward with us: The Power of Belief.
The power of belief in community. The power of belief in each other. The power of belief in perseverance. The power of belief in respect. The power of belief in family.
The power of belief in ourselves. That’s where hope truly begins.
Coach Mark and the rest of the coaches who poured their time, heart, and energy into building up these campers are proof of that power. He’s what this world needs more of, and I couldn’t help but think that Treasure Beach has captured in the PMBL what many of us feel when we visit: the hearts of hundreds of people coming together to create social change.
They do it through sport. We do it through building homes.
We all can do it by telling each other:” Of course, I believe in you.”
Remember that scene from Ted Lasso I mentioned at the beginning of this story?
Here’s the clip I was talking about. I hope it hits home the same way it did for us, and the same way Coach Mark’s words did for Deshaun.
I hope this story moved you as much as it moved me to write it. However, I do want to stress that there’s seriously nothing like experiencing it for yourselves.
If you want to attend the PMBL Basketball Camp next year, we’re looking at planning a build trip for the week before in August. With enough interest, we’ll start organizing so that we can do a week of building in the community, followed by a week of supporting the coaches and campers.
If that sounds like something you’d like to be a part of, let us know by reaching out to info@creatorsofhope.org.
Thanks for reading!
Warmly,
Dan
And remember…
Together, we’re all Creators of Hope.
