Korver's delivering from long distance; might he return?


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SALT LAKE CITY — Jazz fans have always loved Kyle Korver, for his game and his charm. Good looks and great range are a tough package to replace. KK's going away gift was the 2010 season and the NBA record 53.6 percent 3-point shooting for the Jazz.

"I loved playing here for these fans, I loved living life here in Utah. It‘s a good life, good basketball, good people," Korver said. Then Korver added with a little prodding, but not much, "I'm a free agent this summer," and for emphasis, turned directly into our KSL 5 camera and repeated, "A free agent this summer!"

"Man, I loved playing here, and if the Jazz wanted it, I would definitely listen," he said.

Atlanta Hawks' Kyle Korver (26) drives against Phoenix Suns' Wesley Johnson (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 1, 2013, in Phoenix. Korver will be a free agent at the end of this season.
Atlanta Hawks' Kyle Korver (26) drives against Phoenix Suns' Wesley Johnson (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 1, 2013, in Phoenix. Korver will be a free agent at the end of this season.

Right after the 2010 season, the Chicago Bulls made him a three-year, $15 million offer the Jazz didn't even consider matching. Away Korver went, but what stayed was a piece of his big heart in the form of a fledgling foundation— and that's what endures and endears now.

Kyle's little brother Klayton is the Director of Operations for the Kyle Korver Foundation. "If you can give a little, give a little," Klayton said. "If you can give a lot, give a lot, and he'd tell you he's very blessed. He gets to give a lot."

Utah remains one of four headquarters for the Kyle Korver Foundation. His founding vision was putting talented locals in position to do what they were great at, and do it for those less fortunate, all expenses and a salary paid by Korver's foundation. At first, Korver and his church buddy (and softball teammate) Brad Mepham wanted to build houses for families in need, but what percolated to the top of the "real needs" list was wheelchair ramps, custom crafted to fit the front door of a house from the driveway or sidewalk, creating a new form of freedom for anyone using a wheelchair to get around.

Mepham is the carpenter-genius of the operation. He's a born-and-raised Utahn. In the two-and-a-half years this vital program's been running, Brad has personally built all 117 custom ramps for wheelchairs the Korver Foundation has donated to families that really needed help.


I was amazed. I didn't think there was anyone who ever actually thought about the needs of kids like this, outside of the medical profession. It's really neat to see someone reach outside themselves and help a family because we couldn't have done this without him.

–Erin Goldman


"The moment I knew that what we did really had meaning was for a family in Sandy. They had two children, ages 9 and 7, that were in wheelchairs. They had spina bifida," Mepham recalled.

Mepham will never forget how, as soon as he'd installed the ramp, before it was even completely ready, the kids wanted to just roll up and down.

"They just went up and down all day long and could get out to the sidewalk where the school bus would pick them up," Mepham said. "I looked up and I saw Mom and Dad, and they were in complete tears. And I was like, ‘Man, is this that big of a deal?' and Yes, yes it is."

That's where 6-year-old Danny Bottomley comes in.

"I was amazed," Danny's mom Erin Goldman said. "I didn't think there was anyone who ever actually thought about the needs of kids like this, outside of the medical profession. It's really neat to see someone reach outside themselves and help a family, because we couldn't have done this without him."

The Wagner family in Salt Lake City received a ramp from the Kyle Korver Foundation last July. (Kyle Korver Foundation)
The Wagner family in Salt Lake City received a ramp from the Kyle Korver Foundation last July. (Kyle Korver Foundation)

Danny has spina bifida, but the Korver Foundation heard about his struggles and just before Christmas. Mepham finished his latest custom ramp and delivered it whole and intact on a flatbed truck and installed it right at the doorstep to Danny's new home.

"He tells friends, ‘This is my ramp,' and that's right, it's his!" Goldman said.

Danny's all smiles and pulsing energy as he shows off on his new runway.

"I go up and down but this is where I just go straight then I have to turn around," Danny said, with a smile beaming from his face, talking the talk while he's rolling the roll.

Korver has never met Danny, and the son of an Iowa pastor is very reluctant to discuss his role in these life-changing gifts, except to boil it down to the basics.

"Sometimes you do things in life and there's just a peace inside of you, something just feels right," Korver said. "You know what I mean? It's not like a, 'Look at what we did,' type of thing, it's just like, that feels good. It's like a lifestyle and we hope it attracts people, like, ‘I may not be able to build a ramp but I can do this, this is my gift.' "

The gift has ramped up Danny's autonomy.

"He works really hard every step of the way, so to get in and out of his house without assistance and without having to ask for help is huge for his self-esteem," Goldman said. "He's really skyrocketing."

If you want to help or want to tell them about your wheelchair ramp needs visit [the foundation's website](<http://www.kylekorverfoundation.com/about/ target=>).

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