--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always had a passion for giving…" description: "\"I've always had a passion for giving back. It's a family tradition that comes from my devout parents. They were always giving back and serving the comm..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/dikembe-mutombo-13547_also_i-ve-always-had-a-passion-for-giving-bac_855945.png" --- # I've always had a passion for giving back. It's a family… ![“I've always had a passion for giving back. It's a family tradition that comes from my devout parents. They were always giving back and serving the community. So when I became fortunate enough and blessed to play the game of basketball, I was also fortunate enough to follow in my parents' footsteps…” quote by Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/dikembe-mutombo-13547_also_i-ve-always-had-a-passion-for-giving-bac_855945.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/dikembe-mutombo-13547_also_i-ve-always-had-a-passion-for-giving-bac_855945.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/dikembe-mutombo-13547_also_i-ve-always-had-a-passion-for-giving-bac_855945.png) > “I've always had a passion for giving back. It's a family tradition that comes from my devout parents. They were always giving back and serving the community. So when I became fortunate enough and blessed to play the game of basketball, I was also fortunate enough to follow in my parents' footsteps and give back like the way they did.” [Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A personal commitment to community service inspired by family values and success in basketball **In simple terms:** Giving back is a family tradition and personal duty Key Takeaway Use your platform to help others Themes service family legacy sports philanthropy responsibility Mood proud inspired Type motivational philanthropic When to use this quote - coaching youth - charity events - mentorship programs - community outreach Key Concepts Altruism role model social impact Questions to Reflect On - How can athletes maintain consistent community involvement? - What motivates you to give beyond personal gain? A Different Perspective Balancing personal career demands with sustained charitable work can be challenging ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Family tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-tradition/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-back/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Serving the community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serving-the-community/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) ## Related quotes > [There is, in fact, a paradox about working to serve the community, and it is this: that to aim directly at serving the community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/there-is-in-fact-a-paradox-about-working-to-serve-the-community-and/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I'm a big believer in serving the community, giving back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sony-michel/i-m-a-big-believer-in-serving-the-community-giving-back/) [Sony Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sony-michel/) > [Serving the community, I guess it was implanted in me and it's now part of my DNA. As an immigrant, my mother used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/serving-the-community-i-guess-it-was-implanted-in-me-and-it-s-now/) [Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/) > [I have a huge passion for giving back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jenkins/i-have-a-huge-passion-for-giving-back/) [Malcolm Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jenkins/) > [My passion for giving is no different than yours. I give because it's in my heart to give. I give because I was taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/my-passion-for-giving-is-no-different-than-yours-i-give-because-it-s/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [Life is beautiful. It's about giving. It's about family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/life-is-beautiful-it-s-about-giving-it-s-about-family/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [My mom was my rock, my confidant and my best friend. She was an elementary school teacher who worked with students with disabilities and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/my-mom-was-my-rock-my-confidant-and-my-best-friend-she-was-an/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [With gifts, you may gather your enemies about you. When giving nothing, even your own family will leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakya-pandita/with-gifts-you-may-gather-your-enemies-about-you-when-giving-nothing/) Sakya Pandita > [I will suggest that the great aim of our education is to bring out of the child who comes into our hands every faculty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/i-will-suggest-that-the-great-aim-of-our-education-is-to-bring-out-of/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Boston taught me at a young age that a supportive community is the greatest blessing, and serving that community is both a responsibility and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-walsh/boston-taught-me-at-a-young-age-that-a-supportive-community-is-the/) [Marty Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-walsh/) > [Parents who are always giving their children nothing but the best usually wind up with nothing but the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/parents-who-are-always-giving-their-children-nothing-but-the-best/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Parents giving the keys to the car act as if they are giving the keys to the kingdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/parents-giving-the-keys-to-the-car-act-as-if-they-are-giving-the-keys/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I mean you got to thank your parents for giving you the right genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/i-mean-you-got-to-thank-your-parents-for-giving-you-the-right-genes/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [The example set by my grandparents and parents - that of giving one's time, talent, voice and resources, either from one's own home or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-bush/the-example-set-by-my-grandparents-and-parents-that-of-giving-one-s/) [Neil Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-bush/) > [“I imagine giving someone such a gift and then having it returned. Parents are always giving things that are not taken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/i-imagine-giving-someone-such-a-gift-and-then-having-it-returned/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) ## More by Dikembe Mutombo > [Every day, the sun comes out and the sky's always blue. That's what I miss about Denver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dikembe-mutombo/every-day-the-sun-comes-out-and-the-sky-s-always-blue-that-s-what-i/) [Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/) > [I don't think God said we should all be soft. My job is to compete, and the best prevails. I will continue to play,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dikembe-mutombo/i-don-t-think-god-said-we-should-all-be-soft-my-job-is-to-compete-and/) [Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/) > [I am not in politics. 'President Mutombo?' No, no, no. There has never been a politician in my family, and I am not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dikembe-mutombo/i-am-not-in-politics-president-mutombo-no-no-no-there-has-never-been/) [Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/) > [I cannot forget the place that I come from. The Congo is much in need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dikembe-mutombo/i-cannot-forget-the-place-that-i-come-from-the-congo-is-much-in-need/) [Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/) > [When you take the elevator to the top, please remember to send it back down so someone else might use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dikembe-mutombo/when-you-take-the-elevator-to-the-top-please-remember-to-send-it-back/) [Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/) > [I know the president is quick. I have friends who played with him during the campaign; they say he's very good. I told the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dikembe-mutombo/i-know-the-president-is-quick-i-have-friends-who-played-with-him/) [Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/) > [My favorite memory is my five years with the Nuggets. From my first day to my last day is a great memory. There wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dikembe-mutombo/my-favorite-memory-is-my-five-years-with-the-nuggets-from-my-first/) [Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/) > [The NBA has more than 435 players and there are at least 100-some players doing more than expected. Shaq is doing a lot. Dwight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dikembe-mutombo/the-nba-has-more-than-435-players-and-there-are-at-least-100-some/) [Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/) > [When I go to China, people call me 'Uncle Mo' because they refer me as Yao Ming's uncle. I'm pleased to be his uncle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dikembe-mutombo/when-i-go-to-china-people-call-me-uncle-mo-because-they-refer-me-as/) [Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/) > [I usually just speak in English when I'm on the basketball court. For some reason, my mind never even tried to cross any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dikembe-mutombo/i-usually-just-speak-in-english-when-i-m-on-the-basketball-court-for/) [Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/) > [Food - there's no greater gift...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dikembe-mutombo/food-there-s-no-greater-gift/) [Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/) > [When I travel around the globe, I try as hard as I can to represent the NBA and the game of basketball to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dikembe-mutombo/when-i-travel-around-the-globe-i-try-as-hard-as-i-can-to-represent/) [Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/) > [People wonder why I love Africa so much. I say this is where I was born and raised. My roots are in Africa; that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dikembe-mutombo/people-wonder-why-i-love-africa-so-much-i-say-this-is-where-i-was/) [Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/) > [After I made it to the NBA, I said that I didn't want to be the last player from Africa. After my rookie year,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dikembe-mutombo/after-i-made-it-to-the-nba-i-said-that-i-didn-t-want-to-be-the-last/) [Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/) > [My good friend Yao Ming was the first big player in the NBA to come from China. 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