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Wanda Durant, affectionately known as Mama Durant, and “The Real MVP” is a strong leader, advocate, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Her passion is to inspire underserved children, single mothers and communities to move beyond their immediate circumstances and to aim for higher heights in life.
Mama Durant is the mother of two sons: businessman, Anthony (Tony) Durant; and National Basketball Association (NBA) Champion and 2017 Finals MVP player, Kevin Durant. After fulfilling her most precious role as a mother and a 20 year career, Wanda became overwhelmed with a long-ignored desire to find her purpose. Her dream was realized when she created Hope, Dream Believe and Achieve (HDBA, LLC) where she is the president and CEO of this motivation platform. Through HDBA, Wanda shares her blueprint for parenting that she used to help her children become successful adults. She also emphasizes to the youth the importance of them becoming global citizens and cultural diplomats.
Wanda’s philanthropic outreach is realized via her time and support to The Kevin Durant Charity Foundation, and other non-profits including Single Parents Support Network, Baller Moms, Positive Tomorrows, The Boys & Girls Club of America and Mothers of Professional Basketball Players. Wanda recently launched her own non-profit entity, Wanda Durant The Real MVP™ Charity, Inc.
As a fiery speaker, Wanda has addressed corporate, non-profit, financial, community organizations, faith-based forums, college campuses and youth audiences. One of Wanda’s mantras is “where there is hope there are possibilities”. She has also been the keynote speaker for diverse audiences such as J. P. Morgan Chase, the Ford Foundation, The White House United State of Women Summit, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference, NBA Cares and others. She has been featured in national and international media on CNN, Access Hollywood, ESPN, Fox Sports, NBC, Comcast Sports, ABC and CBS, Good Morning America, The Wendy Williams Show, The Today Show, amongst many others.
Wanda recently shared her life story, in the movie “The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story” produced by musical artist, television producer and actress Queen Latifah (Dana Owens) which is now available on DVD.
It is Wanda’s passion to guide her audience to realize that hope is alive inside of them, encourage them to dream, and help them to truly believe they can achieve the future they want.
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Jennifer Ivey stands as a beacon of inspiration in various roles: a dedicated mother, loving wife, passionate educator, gifted artist, and an active community organizer. Her passion for assisting in her community is evident in her enthusiasm for connecting with people from all walks of life.
She is the proud mother of her two remarkable sons, Royal and Sterling Ivey. A direct support specialist, working with mentally challenged adults. Royal, making his mark in the sports arena, has played in the NBA for a commendable 10 years and currently holds the position of an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets.
Jennifer has been married to her husband of 43 years, Rod Ivey. Rod is not just her life partner but also a renowned graphic artist and painter, recognized across national platforms. Their synergistic partnership extends beyond their family life, with both of them actively participating on the board of 'Defending Your Dream', a non-profit initiative. Furthermore, their commitment to their community continued with the 'Royal Skills Clinic', a 501(c)(3) organization, which has successfully provided free basketball clinics to over 1,000 elementary school students in Queens over the past decade.
In her illustrious career spanning four decades as an educator, Jennifer has made a significant impact in the lives of special education students. Her commitment to excellence and progressive growth in the field led her to work closely with teachers, fortifying leadership teams in NYC schools. As a literacy consultant for the UFT, she has been instrumental in designing and leading innovative workshops for fellow educators. Her tenure as an adjunct professor further highlights her dedication to fostering a passion for learning and service among her students.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Jennifer is an artist with a vision. Her artwork has graced numerous galleries in NYC and has been showcased in national art exhibitions, receiving accolades and admiration alike.
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Patricia (Paddy) Hibbert brings over 25 years of experience in human resources administration, overseeing large-scale recruitment initiatives, and implementing employee retention programs, which much of her time working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. She is a Health Office Assistant at the Georgetown Preparatory School in Rockville, Maryland.
Paddy volunteered with the Mothers of Professional Basketball Players, (MPBP) Inc. for 13 years. As the mother of Roy Hibbert, Jr., a two-time NBA All-Star, she became aware of the organization’s mission and became a member. She was elected the Recruitment Director for nine years and served on the board for eight years. She co-chaired their national conference and raised over $80,000 to support families in Ward 8 in the District of Columbia by paying their utility bills.
She led a back-to-school drive for the Washington Jesuit Academy and worked as a Volunteer Development Associate with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the National Capital Area. She also served as a Community Outreach Committee member with the City Council of Bowie Maryland.
Paddy Hibbert is one of the founding members of O.U.R. Mothers, a non-profit organization whose mission is to help “at-promise” children. She currently serves as an Executive Board Member and temporary secretary. She was also appointed the Director of Fundraising.
Paddy holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Administration. She has been married to Roy Hibbert, Sr., for 34 years and is the proud grandmother of Trey, Hayden Reece, Serena Star, and Remington Drake Hibbert.
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Ronda Burke is an accomplished professional with 18 years of expertise in Human Resource Management and over 10 years of experience in the airline industry. She currently serves as the Director of Strategic Partnerships for Jetfuel Medical, a leading safety solutions company, where she leverages her extensive background in people management, relationship building, and organizational strategy to foster impactful collaborations.
Ronda holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management and has built a career marked by a commitment to excellence, people development, and organizational growth. She is passionate about community service and initiatives that strengthen and uplift others. Ronda is deeply devoted to her family. She has been married to Benji Burke for 32 years and is the proud mother of Amber, Amani, Jeremy, and 9-year NBA veteran and international professional basketball player Trey Burke.
In her free time, Ronda treasures moments with her friends and family—especially her grandchild—while also enjoying traveling the world, attending sporting events and being an advocate for health and wellness. She is dedicated to fostering connections while making a positive change in the community and one of the reasons she is proud to be a member of O.U.R Mothers.
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Cathy Watson presently serves as director of Quiet Storm Foundation, as well as Director of Volunteers for O.U.R. Mothers. Through this service organization, Cathy facilitates collaborations between community businesses, school districts, private stakeholders, and community service businesses on behalf of the foundation.
Mrs. Watson is a native of the great Volunteer State of Tennessee. She attended Tennessee State University before pursuing her journey to Las Vegas where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Workforce Education and Master of Education and Curriculum Instruction from University of Nevada Las Vegas.
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Marie Henderson is the mother of recently retired NBA player Gerald Henderson, Jr. and the wife of retired NBA player Gerald Henderson, Sr.
Marie earned her Business Administration degree from San Francisco State University. After graduating, she moved to Washington, DC, to work as a Legislative Assistant to the late Congressman Mickey Leland. Later, she began her career in real estate as a realtor and is presently the Team Leader of the Marie Henderson Team and a member of the Sports and Entertainment Division of Compass Real Estate. She has successfully worked with over 100 clients in this industry. Her team is also the Preferred Real Estate Partner of the Philadelphia Union Soccer Club.
Marie is honored to be a member of O.U.R. Mothers. She has been involved with various local charities, such as Eddie’s House, The Covenant House, Community Partnership School, and the Maternity Care Coalition. Marie’s passion is helping people find their place in the world.
Marie has three children and six grandchildren and enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and supporting her church.
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Deena Beasley is an accomplished actress, passionate executive producer, and dedicated Vice President of the MB5 ProAcademy Foundation. Mother of NBA player Malik Beasley and wife to Actor Michael Beasley. With a heart for her community, Deena is recognized for her unwavering commitment to helping others and being a positive influencer. As a mother of three, she effortlessly balances her career with her role as a philanthropist, utilizing her platform to make a meaningful difference in the world.
Deena lived and worked overseas as a fashion model and singer for nearly 20 years. She speaks fluent German and some French and Italian. Her career expanded over 35 years. Deena Moved back to the States and opened her Modeling School in Roswell Georgia, where she trained and coached, models, and actors.
Deena is excited and proud to be a founding member of O.U.R. Mothers. She has worked and partnered with various Charities, such as Boys and Girls Club, St Judes, Shoes That Fit, Hosea Feed The Hungry, and more. Deena Loves traveling and reaching out and assisting communities while helping others Live their Dream.
Deena is currently an actress, you can see her in BMF, Reptile, 90 Minutes in Heaven, Fist Fight, Catching Fire (Hunger Games, Bad Lieutenant, and more.
She has written The TV show “Living the Dream” (My Basketball Mom). Deena Loves going to NBA games, traveling, volunteering, and entertaining friends and family.