The Daily Breeze Ball Drive began in 1999 when a former sportswriter attended a basketball clinic with then Los Angeles Laker Cedric Ceballos who signed basketballs for the children. One of the boys soon was spotted bouncing a signed ball and told the columnist, Woody Woodburn, that he had never owned a ball of his own. And that's how the Ball Drive began.
For more than 1,000 young people each year, the Daily Breeze Ball Drive means they will have a brand new sports ball to play with during the holiday season. Since 1999, Daily Breeze readers have donated roughly 18,000 sports balls to the Boys & Girls Clubs of L.A. Harbor. In 2018, the drive collected 1,600 sports balls, a new record.
Farmers Agent Mike Correa has contributed to the Ball Drive each of its 20 years. Having grown up going to the Boys & Girls Club in San Pedro, Mike said the ball drive represents the best part of Christmas: the giving.
Correa rallies his friends and customers to purchase balls and donate them. Together they contribute several hundred sports balls to the drive each year, while also giving to a toy drive and another effort for service members.
"I'm nowhere near rich, but I'm not poor," says Mike. "I feel like God has treated me very well so I've got to give back."
With the Daily Breeze having relocated its offices to El Segundo this year, the Ball Drive will be conducted somewhat differently. Balls can be brought to Mike's office and to the three Boys & Girls Clubs area locations.
If you would like to purchase balls directly through Amazon and have them delivered, they should be sent to the club’s San Pedro location.
The Daily Breeze Ball Drive this year began on November 10 and runs until December 16.
Ball Drive Drop-Off Locations
Farmers Agent Mike Correa, 1891 N Gaffey St., San Pedro, CA 90731
Boys & Girls Club, 1200 South Cabrillo Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731
Boys & Girls Club, 1444 West Q Street, Wilmington, CA 90744
Boys & Girls Club, 1220 256th St., Harbor City, CA 90710
