Up Close: Kermit Washington

By Charity Corkey (Contact)

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Former NBA star Kermit Washington, 57, fasted for five days at American University last week to support hunger relief in Africa. At night, the 6-foot-8-inch AU alumni slept in a small tent outside of the School of International Services Building. During the day, he chatted with students and faculty.

After visiting Rwanda in 1995, Washington founded Project Contact, a non-profit organization offering medical relief to East Africa.

Once known for punching opposing player Judy Tomjonavich in an on-court fight in 1977 - a blow severely injuring Tomjonavich as well as Washington's career - the five-year Leesburg resident is increasingly recognized for his humanitarian efforts.

In this interview, Washington shares his thoughts about Project Contact, his five-day fast, the NBA, his current relationship with Tomjonavich and the state of D.C. public schools.

Q: Tell us why you are fasting on American University's campus. What do you hope will be the outcome of this act?

A: So I've been going [to Africa] since 1994. I went during the Rwanda war. I went over with a medical group and I just realized it was so bad I thought I can help and so I've been going ever since, sometimes twice a year, sometimes three times a year, taking doctors and nurses and medicine over there.

The reason I'm fasting at American University, I went to school here. The School of International Service sends about 20 students over per semester to go to school [in Africa] and to work in a clinic or maybe my school that we have over there.

So having it here, I think it brings to light what the School of International Service is doing over there, and what American University is doing to try and help the world.

Q: How many meals would 10 American dollars provide in Africa?

A: 100 meals, very well. No meat now, but it'd be rice and beans and cornmeal. You could be surprised. For a dollar, you can feed 10 people pretty well.

Q: How has this action been received by students and professors on campus?

A: Very well, but see first of all the president of the university, he fasted yesterday. We don't expect money from the students. We just want to raise awareness, let them know what's going on and what they can do. What one dollar can really do.

Q: Tell us about Project Contact and your work with the organization.

A: Project Contact started when I went to Rwanda during the war in 1994. I realized that a lot of work had to be done over there. And I thought that you know, not doing anything was the wrong thing to do and I have the opportunity since I was doing well financially.

I thought I could help those people by taking doctors and nurses over with medicine. And so it kept growing and growing. We have a clinic built now, and we have a school with 55 students and we have a food distribution center in the community.

We do fundraisers ever year. And by fasting, I thought this was a quick way of making people aware what we're doing and to be able to raise money for the whole year so we don't have to hustle during the year.

Q: Do you have an office in Leesburg for Project Contact?

A: No, we don't have an office. We're just a group of people that work together.

Q: How many members do you have working with you?

A: Oh, about six or seven. We think of things to do and then we go over there and get it done.

Q: How did you come to be interested in hunger issues in Africa?

A: See, ever since I was even in college, I wanted to join the Peace Corps when I graduated … then I went into playing pro ball.

See, to me honestly life is boring. That's why I like doing things like this. It's meaningful. Other than that, getting up every day and working, you make enough money to last, but it's not exciting to me. But this is a good challenge.

Q: What has been the most memorable thing about your trips to Africa over the years?

A: Helping people make it and seeing them improve their lives and their ability to have hope. I think what we do is we give people hope over there. We're lucky to be born here. And they were unlucky to be born over there. We're not special. We're just lucky.

Q: Switching gears a bit to your years at American, when the AU Eagles went to the NCAA Tournament last year, where did you watch the game? What was your reaction to the team finally making it to the Big Dance?

A: I was at home. I came to the last three home games here. But I had to do something so I couldn't go down to where they played. But I loved it, I was very very proud of them. They're doing very well.

Q: In your junior year at AU, you were offered $400,000 to quit school and join the pros, but you opted to stay in school. What advice would you give to today's young athletes who face the choice between staying in school or accepting a contract?

A: It depends on their family situation and depends on how much they enjoy the college life. I knew that I was going to get drafted the next year. I had never had money before in my life, so it wasn't like something I was really wanting to have.

I had so much fun in school I stayed for one more year. I enjoyed it.

Q: I'm sure you have been asked frequently about what happened with Rudy Tomjonavich in 1977, but what we would like to know is, do you still feel repercussions from that fight today?

A: People remember me for that, but you know that's life. We make mistakes and we just have to overcome it. He's doing very well, and I guess we both have gone on and done well. And I always apologize for the situation, for what happened.

Q: Do you and Tomjonavich have a friendly relationship today?

A: Yes, we talk, we talk. Because after, I apologized, and that was 30 years ago.

Q: When you think back on your NBA career, what is the one thing you miss the most?

A: You know, the NBA, it was a good experience. It wasn't as much fun as college. College was wonderful. Pro is a business. And you gotta be ready, your teammates [are always] competing with you to get your job.

Q: Moving on to your life today, can you tell us how you came to live in Leesburg?

A: I came back to D.C., and basically it's very nice out there. Lansdowne, it's a golf community so it's nice. [There is] less traffic, and the houses are cheaper, though now they're going down in value so much, I don't know if it makes any difference.

Q: Tell us something about yourself that your neighbors might not know.

A: I live a simple life. The simple things make me happy. I like traveling.

Nothing special about me. I work out all the time, every day. I try to stay as young as I can as long as I can until I get old.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of living in Loudoun County?

A: It's peaceful as long as you don't have to drive into D.C. every day. I think it's wonderful.

Q: Do you have a family in Leesburg?

A: My kids are grown up, so it's just me and my wife.

Tagged: basketball, fundraiser, Lansdowne, Up Close

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