Greg Oden understands that he wouldn’t be where he is today without the influence of important mentors in his life. As he explains, “Mike Conley Sr. was my high school coach, and has been a great mentor. Now he's my agent, so I continue to count on his guidance every day. Jimmy Smith, the father of my best friend Travis, is the Executive Director of the Terre Haute, Ind., Boys and Girls Club. I grew up in that club, and learned a lot from Mr. Smith along the way.”
As a result of these experiences, and after losing his friend, Travis, in a car accident, Greg Oden started to look for ways to give back and to honor his friend. He partnered with Oregon Mentors to help to recruit people to become mentors.
He explains that the bottom line of Team ODEN is support. There are thousands of kids who need guidance and support from a loving mentor. And that’s what Team ODEN is all about.
