Happy heavenly birthday, Gigi! Student athletes receive scholarships for Gianna Bryant’s birthday

The announcement was made in a poignant video on social media as the scholarship recipients were surprised with the grants and Mambacity-branded gear, including shoes and jerseys, in the backdrop of the Kobe and Gigi Bryant Dream Court at Pearson Park in Anaheim.

Each student athlete received $24,802, representing Kobe and Gigi’s numbers. In total, the foundation gave away half a million dollars. The scholarship recipients were selected because they were resilient athletes who embrace team work and family values, according to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.

The 20 students tearfully expressed gratitude as they remembered Gigi as a persistent and inspiring role model who embodied the Mamba mentality.

When Kobe’s helicopter crashed into the hills of Calabasas in 2020, the father and daughter — along with other Gigi’s teammates and family members — were on their way to Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks.

Bryant, who spent 20 years with the Los Angeles Lakers, would often refer to Gianna in Instagram posts as “Mambacita,” inspired by the nickname “The Black Mamba,” which he gave himself.