BIG SPRING, Texas — The Hoops Dreams and Goals Tournament in Big Spring is celebrating 20 years of service to the intellectual or developmentally disabled (IDD) community.
The joy and excitement for this event poured out the doors. Going from just a handful of the teams 20 years ago, to now having an audience of over 1,000 people.
It is an event that every single attendee looks forward to every year.
The tournament was created with many goals in mind, but first and foremost, it was to let the public know that people with special needs are just as capable of doing anything they set their minds to.
“I think a lot of people have a misconception that they’re not able to perform to that certain level," Community Relations Manager Amy Vidal said. "It’s just mind-blowing that they come out here they perform they cheer they yell, and it's just a lot of fun.”
Even more mind blown is David McKinney, who started out on the court in 2005 and now coaches that very same team.
“It means everything to me," McKinney said. "Like when I first got here, I couldn't find nobody. And then now it's great.”
McKinney has seen the tournament, teams and support grow right before his eyes.
“Woo it done changed a lot," McKinney said. "Let’s see, the teams get better every year and it’s a lot more competition so the teams is better every year.”
Vicki Wells has a son that's played in the tournament for a couple of years. Now, she says it is something he looks forward to every year.
“Excitement for the kids has grown," Wells said. "It's something that they all seem to really, really enjoy and get into. And I think it's a really special event for Big Spring because the community has really been involved a whole lot.”
“When you see our consumers that do light up because it's their special day and they know it's their day and it's all week, all year, at times event for them," said Danny Williams, asset manager for West Texas Centers . "So, it carries on, it's not just today.”
The entire staff agrees: people with special needs are people that deserve love and support no matter what. Being a part of something bigger than yourself is a special gift that was highlighted in the tournament on Thursday.