A Sandy Springs teenager is turning his love of basketball into a community event for a cause.
Fifteen-year-old Christian Milteer will host the “High Schoolers Hoops for Hunger 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament & Food Drive” on Saturday to benefit North Fulton Community Charities.
The tournament is organized through The Empowerment Workshop and will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hembree Recreation Center in Roswell. A total of 16 teams of three will compete in a double-elimination format, with games happening simultaneously at opposite ends of the court.
The top teams will receive $500 (first place), $250 (second), and $100 (third).
There is a $25 registration fee to participate in the tournament. Admission is free for spectators.
The event is presented by The Empowerment Workshop, which was founded by Christian’s mother, Le’Dor Milteer. The nonprofit works to create a more inclusive and equitable society through events and transformative conversations.
Along with the basketball competition, Saturday morning will include a live DJ and raffles. Attendees are asked to bring canned goods for donation to North Fulton Community Charities.
The event is a way to kick off the giving season and raise awareness for hunger relief, Le’Dor Milteer said.
“I want it to be exciting,” Christian said of the upcoming tournament. “I want everyone to have a good time, and just give back to the community.”
As the host, the teen said that he is not playing in the three-on-three tournament.
Christian, a sophomore attending St. Pius X Catholic High School, said the event idea came to him after seeing a similar youth event that rewarded winners with backpacks.
“I thought it would be fun to do something like that here, and have it go to a good cause,” he said. “People have always supported me throughout my basketball career. I realized I should give back to the community.”
He originally hoped to host the tournament in Sandy Springs, but the city has no recreation center.
Christian started playing basketball at age four in a YMCA league. He now plays starting point guard for St. Pius’s team and plays on an AAU summer team. He’s also known around Sandy Springs as a young entrepreneur. At local events, he operates Christian’s Concessions Court, a stand selling snacks, candy, and healthy options.
“Christian’s tournament embodies [The Empowerment Workshop] mission by bringing people together, promoting awareness, and showing how young people can lead with purpose,” Le’Dor Milteer said.
The event has attracted several sponsors, including Brookstone Mechanical, Mark Carroll and Friends Charity, GlobeCoRe Inc., C3 Designsbiz, and Ammons Business Consulting.
For more information on the tournament or to register, email info@t-e-w.org or text 404-437-8497.
