Major initiatives led by Mourning include several annual events held throughout the country such as The Summer Groove, as well as the Honey Shine Mentoring Program, which works to empower young girls to shine as women. Zo’s Fund For Life is another program led by Mourning which raises funds for research, education, and testing to fight Focal Glomerulosclerosis. Mourning is an advocate for youth initiatives and foster care programs that assist abused, abandoned, and neglected kids. He is a sought-after speaker, engaging audiences of all ages and sizes on the importance of education, leadership and perseverance.

Mourning is consistently recognized for his charitable efforts receiving numerous awards such as the NBA’s Community Assist Award in 2006 and 2008; National Urban League’s Outstanding Community Service Award in 2003; Silver Medallion Community Service Award by the National Conference for Community and Justine in 2003; NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Sportsmanship Award in 2002; and The Children’s Trust Excellence Award for Public Policy in 2007, to name a few.

Mourning was drafted as the number two pick, of the first round, by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1992 National Basketball Association’s (NBA) draft. After three successful years with the Hornets, Mourning moved on in 1995 to spend seven years with the Miami Heat leading the team to win several Eastern division titles. Impressing others with the vigor and tenacity that he has put into being a defensive weapon for his team and an offensive nightmare for his opponents, Alonzo was selected to join an elite group of NBA players who represented the United States in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

Diagnosed with Focal Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a degenerative kidney ailment, at the start of the 2000-2001 season, Mourning led a campaign to fight FSGS and raised $2 million for research, education, and testing. He returned to the court after undergoing a kidney transplant in that same season and played in the remaining 13 games with the Miami Heat. In 2003 Mourning joined the New Jersey Nets but returned to Miami, a place he calls home, and rejoined the Miami Heat in 2005 where he was an integral part in leading the team to their first NBA Championship in the 2005-06 season. Mourning is a seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year (1999 and 2000). He is currently among the league’s leaders in blocked shots, field goal percentages and rebounds per game.

At the end of September 2008 Mourning’s first book, an autobiography titled “RESILIENCE,” was released. In it, Mourning shares the hardships he’s endured and survived – from petitioning himself into foster care as a ten-year old, to studying his way onto the Dean’s list in college, surviving an incurable, degenerative kidney disease and transplant, as well as battling his way to superstar status in the NBA. The paperback version of the book was released in September 2009.

Also in 2009, Mourning was honored with The Mannie Jackson – Basketball’s Human Spirit Award which carried him to the Basketball Hall of Fame and he was inducted into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame.

At the start of the 2009/2010 Miami-Dade County School year, a high school was commemoratively named after the Mourning’s – Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High Biscayne Bay Campus. The Miami-Dade School Board recognized the positive affects the Mourning’s have on youth throughout the South Florida community and have honored them with the school naming.

In October 2009 the Alonzo Mourning Access to Care Act became effective. The new law allows patients with end-stage renal disease and other disabilities to expand insurance coverage in order to become eligible for transplants.

Mourning is a graduate of Georgetown University and holds a degree in Sociology. He and his wife, Tracy Wilson Mourning, reside in Miami, Florida with their three children – sons Trey and Alijah and daughter Myka.

(updated 1/18/10)