Ryan Gomes is a player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA and is of Cape Verdean descent. Gomes almost didn’t get picked in the 2005 NBA draft because the scouts thought he wasn’t quite the right size or have the right abilities but the Celtics decided to take a chance on him because they felt he had a strong work ethic and a great track record, and they weren’t disappointed.

He is now with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and when he isn’t playing professional basketball, he can be found fundraising for his foundation, Hoops for Heart Health. He started the foundation when he was in college at Providence and a student from Connecticut collapsed and died on the court. If there had been a defibrillator, it might have saved his lifeHe will be hosting a fundraising dinner and golf tournament June 16-17 in Southington to raise money for heart defibrillators. His foundation works in conjunction with Parent Heart Watch and Cardiac Science Corp. to put defibrillators in gymnasiums, schools, and recreation centers. To date he has raised enough money for 15 defibrillators in 13 cities.

Although Gomes doesn’t play golf, he plans to put his best foot forward! That should be interesting.