Last year, a friend of Tim’s e-mailed almost everyone he knew with a simple plea:
“We just started coaching 4th and 5th grade basketball at Public School 208 [in New York City],” he wrote. “Most of the kids don’t have basketball shoes, and many of them end up practicing in the pants and t-shirts that they wear to school. We want to buy practice jerseys, game jerseys, and basketball shoes (something a little difficult on a student budget). Let us know if you’d be willing to help out.”
Tim forwarded it to me.
“We can totally help,” I said. “With one condition: they let us design the jerseys!”
And that’s how Panic came to sponsor the coolest basketball team in the world: PS 208’s Locke’s Lions.
In their last game, led by Coaches Chad and Steve, the Locke’s Lions beat the stinky PS 134 Jaguars in an impressive 28-22 win. But, more than that, one only has to look at these photos to remember how awesome it is to be a kid, play a game, and love a thing. We’re proud to be an indirect, remote part of that feeling.
The kids sent along some super nice thank-you notes at the end of the season which we thought you’d like to see. We only hope that, one day, we can cheer them on in person.
Regis
4/14/2010 10:54 AMThat is just plain awesome. Seriously.
Design Informer
4/14/2010 10:59 AMAmazing!
Basketball + Design + Being Able to Help Out the Needy = Priceless
Florian Schroiff
4/14/2010 10:59 AMRewarding for everyone involved! Great. One kid even used “one more thing” in his letter.
Jesse
4/14/2010 11:00 AMFistbump.
The smiles on the kids faces playing brings it all home. You guys get to sleep well at night, don’t you?
Jared Kuolt
4/14/2010 11:00 AMYou guys have so much character, it’d be nice if you’d share it with the rest of the class.
ariel
4/14/2010 11:01 AMgreat stuff guys.
Max Dominik Weber
4/14/2010 11:03 AMWow, this is a great story. I love the emblem, especially the scratches.
cesar
4/14/2010 11:04 AMpretty nice gesture of yours!! the logo is awesome!!! 100% panic style!
nat (the ex-novell and ex-ximian) did something similar some time ago http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/pencils-for-kids/
Heather R.
4/14/2010 11:16 AMThis is such a brilliant and kind-hearted idea. You guys are making a difference in those kids’ lives every day. Doesn’t get much more awesome than that.
El Pocho
4/14/2010 11:20 AMThis is seriously one huge bit of awesome. I’ve always dug your products and company culture, but this makes it even better. Keep it up!
Bert Vanderveen
4/14/2010 11:27 AMJeez, where were you guys when I was playing ball in middle school?
Love the design, too.
Jason B.
4/14/2010 11:27 AMFrakkin Awesome. Love the logo, maybe you could help redesign some of the other non-profits with lousy logos.
Chris Kerins
4/14/2010 11:38 AMThis is so cool that it cries out for other related companies to sponsor the other teams in their league so us geeks can indirectly have a friendly competition in a sport most of us can’t play. Those stinky PS 134 Jaguars can probably use some fresh gear. Panic vs. Coudal anyone?
Eric Peacock
4/14/2010 11:38 AMFantastic!
Love the name “Unique McElwin” (second thank you note). That’s right up there with “Cabel Sasser” and “Neven Mrgan”
Phil
4/14/2010 11:40 AMAdd one more thing to the list of reasons “Why I Love Panic”! Really thoughtful, guys. :)
Wevah
4/14/2010 12:01 PMFantastic!
Wevah
4/14/2010 12:02 PM(Crap, someone said “Fantastic!” already!)
Wevah
4/14/2010 12:02 PM(My comment saying “Fantastic!” was apparently lost into the nether.)
Chris Danek
4/14/2010 12:04 PMThis story really made my day, awesome!
Mark Hurty
4/14/2010 12:11 PMYou guys are awesome. The jerseys are cool.
CM Harrington
4/14/2010 12:15 PMVery cool! The logo is adorable. Sometimes, it’s the little things that matter most. Please keep your fans updated as to their progress during the season!
I also hope that this will encourage them in their academics. Some of the spelling in those letters was atrocious.
Andrew
4/14/2010 12:22 PMWill these ever be available in the Panic store?
Alan
4/14/2010 12:23 PMI know I’m being a bit off topic, speaking of you “Mac centric” guys, but:
I, LOVE, THIS, COMPANY.
Jot
4/14/2010 12:26 PMLet us buy the shirts with the logo on it, all profits can go to the team !
James Gowan
4/14/2010 12:31 PMTruly Revolutionary and Magical at a break-through price!
Bryan Veloso
4/14/2010 12:34 PMI echo Chris’ sentiment. We have to see more companies do this. Thanks for setting yet another precedent. :)
Jeff
4/14/2010 12:42 PMIt’s always good to see someone doing good for others.
Jeff LaMarche
4/14/2010 1:01 PMPlain and simple: You guys are awesome.
Mark
4/14/2010 1:10 PMHow awesome its going to be when these kids grow up a little and realize that it was THE Panic that designed their uniforms. This is like the gift that keeps on giving…
Peter S.
4/14/2010 1:14 PMThanks! Panic makes great products and does great things.
Mike McNeive
4/14/2010 1:16 PMWhat an awesome gesture. I’d like to see more creative/tech companies helping out the kids!
Agos
4/14/2010 1:19 PMThe only way this could be any awesomer is if the school was entitled to John Locke. Still, this is awesome. And moving.
Nate
4/14/2010 1:44 PM“so thank you and one more thing you are the best.”
I think I’m going to start ending all my thank you notes that way.
Joe ferguson
4/14/2010 1:47 PMThis sucks. I know the kids at PS 134 and if the Lions could only beat the Jaguars by 6 points then they suck too.
Nah, only kidding. Great work Panic and even better work by the kids and Coaches Chad and Steve.
Mark Bao
4/14/2010 2:12 PMThis is so wonderful. Thank you, Panic, for being awesome.
Diane Lopinsky
4/14/2010 2:29 PMThat’s so cute!
Awwwww……
I’d love to be able to drop anything and coach a youth basketball team all day!
Sally C
4/14/2010 2:32 PMPanic–thanks so much for sponsoring this kids Basketball Team–way to go! So appreciate your sharing pics & stories. We need to hear ’bout the good news in this world.
Shane
4/14/2010 3:06 PMBeing a kid that grew up playing in YMCA leagues, this is AWESOME! I wish someone like y’all would of hooked one of my teams up. This makes me want to go out and do the same thing, only I don’t have the money to do it.
Mic
4/14/2010 7:00 PMF*** YEAH! You are rockers. It’s these sorts of things that make us love you, Panic.
bob
4/14/2010 7:45 PMOkay, call me a pollyanna, but I got a little misty reading this. This is why I dig you guys. Thanks for sharing the story and the letters.
Silvio Sousa Cabral
4/14/2010 7:46 PMMan, this is totally awesome. Help people in ways like this one makes me proud of you, guys! :-)
_ndies
4/14/2010 9:40 PMvery. cool. ;D
Ben
4/14/2010 10:33 PMI remember not having money to buy basketball shoes when I was young and never had one. You guys are freakin awesome.
Vlado Cingel
4/14/2010 10:58 PMThumbs up for Panic!
Waldo
4/15/2010 5:41 AMonce again, you guys completely rock.
Ankur
4/15/2010 6:54 AMInspired.
AxsDeny
4/15/2010 7:05 AMAwesome. Good work guys. It’s these types of things that give awesome companies an even better name. Those kids surely had a blast in their new gear.
Their letters were sweet but made me think that perhaps they should be working on their reading and writing a little more. *shrug*
Chuck Toporek
4/15/2010 7:18 AMThis is totally awesome. Just one more reason to buy Panic’s software (as if you’d need a reason). Next time I’m in Portland, drinks are on me.
The Guilty Carnivore
4/15/2010 4:50 PMWhen can we buy these shirts?
Also, I’d like to buy a shirt with Unique’s letter.
Fredric
4/16/2010 2:57 AMThis is why I pay for Panic products. Awesome!
Kasper
4/16/2010 9:59 AMThis is truly inspiring!
Chris
4/16/2010 4:34 PMWell done.
Ander Lopez
4/17/2010 12:31 PMSeriously guys, this is what work is all about. I love companies that impact their communities. This is why I will continue to use Panic applications in the future (it’s enough already that your software kicks other companies solutions right in the groin). Keep up the innovation, and keep on making this world a better place to live in both online and on the street.
chase
6/9/2010 11:22 AMI have to say that I literally started to tear up as I read this. You guy’s are awesome. The world really needs more people like you. Keep up the great work!
Kate Mag
7/16/2010 10:37 AMThat’s awesome and inspiring!. What you did to those kids…WOW. Great job, Panic.
NBA Youth Jerseys
1/14/2011 3:58 AMGreat way for Panic to get their brand out there while helping a youth sports team!
Daniel Fermin
12/11/2015 9:31 AMThis is crazy. Five years ago I was a Locke Lion an always will be. This will be a memory that will always stay in my heart. I will always be thankful for the people that did help us at the time because we needed it. Coach Chad and Steve I would love to meet up an catch up on things an hopefully show you my improved game if you do read this update!!!!! #LockeLionsForLife
Abdoul sawadogo
8/14/2016 10:55 AMI remember playing on this team. I am the one on the first row to the left. never knew it was posted online. #GOLIONS