413 Elite Owner Charles Evans Honored by Springfield City Council
By Colleen Large
On May 22, 2023, the Springfield, Massachusetts City Council issued a proclamation and recognized 413 Elite owner Charles Evans for his “passion for the sport of Basketball and love for the Community, creating space and opportunities for others to enjoy Basketball, and for making a difference in the lives of many in the City of Springfield.”
Sponsored by City Councilors Lavar Click-Bruce, Justin Hurst, Tracye Whitfield, and Jesse Lederman, the proclamation included details about Evans’ academic, professional, and athletic careers and represents the Council’s strong support for Evans and 413 Elite, Springfield’s own American Basketball Association (ABA) team that will enter its second season this fall.
The Council, including Click-Bruce, Lederman, Malo L. Brown, Kateri Walsh, and Zaida Govan, spoke thoroughly on Evans’ impact on the community and expressed their gratitude towards his commitment to his hometown of Springfield. Lederman concluded the Council’s remarks with a hopeful statement about the future of Springfield, the Birthplace of Basketball, and Evans’ impact:
“On behalf of the entire City Council and the City of Springfield, thank you. We have a long way to go in Springfield to truly recognizing our potential as Basketball City USA, but your efforts are bringing us closer to claiming that true identity that we know rests here in the City of Springfield.”
Joined by 413 Elite mascot, Mr. Buckets, Evans graciously accepted the honor and spoke of his obligation to bring basketball back to the City of Springfield: “We are the birthplace, so this is where the game belongs and where it needs to flourish and be nurtured and to be carried beyond even where I am taking it.”
To hear the entire dedication, please visit the 413 Elite YouTube channel.
