The Vernon Maxwell Initiative to host Mental Health Symposium and Golf Tournament on Sept. 19 and 20 to 'provide athletes with a supportive space'

The Vernon Maxwell Initiative is set to host its first-ever Mental Health Symposium and Golf Tournament, sponsored by Wing Stop, on Sept. 19 and Sept. 20 in Houston, Texas. Founded by former NBA star, entrepreneur, and host of the Maxed Out podcast, Vernon Maxwell, the Vernon Maxwell Initiative was established to promote accessible and sustainable mental health solutions for athletes of every age group.

According to the Vernon Maxwell Initiative, the Mental Health Symposium will take place at the Park 8 Center, located at 8800 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. S., Unit 107, and will start at 7:30 p.m. This event will include a keynote appearance by the esteemed Metta World Peace and will be moderated by AT&T sports sideline reporter Vanessa Richardson

The initiative said that the symposium aims to unite influential individuals from the broader Houston community who are actively engaged in philanthropic efforts pertaining to mental health.

The spotlight of the initiative's first-ever event will be the Golf Tournament, set to tee off at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at Wildcat Golf Course, per the Vernon Maxwell Initiative. The tournament will conclude with a ceremony intended to inspire reflection about the profound influence of the event on athletes' mental well-being.

Maxwell noted the driving force behind his initiative, saying, “My goal was to provide athletes with a supportive space where they feel heard and can find help for their mental well-being and progress.”

According to the initiative, guests participating in the golf tournament include former NBA players Metta World Peace, Otis Thorpe, Mario Ellie, Gerald Green, DJ Augustin, Derek Harper, Cadillac Anderson, Ryan Hollins, and Trevor Ariza, as well as former NFL players Yancey Thigpen and Vince Young; rapper Scarface, Councilwoman and Senate candidate Amanda Edwards, and more.