Vanessa Bryant changes name of Kobe’s charity to honor her daughter Gianna

Kobe Bryant’s widow has renamed the late basketball great’s charity to honor their 13-year-old daughter who also perished in the tragic January 26 helicopter crash outside of Los Angeles.

Vanessa Bryant, 37, announced on Thursday that the Mamba Sports Foundation will now be known as the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.

‘Because there is no #24 without #2, we have updated the Mamba Sports Foundation to now be called the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation,’ Vanessa Bryant said Thursday on her Instagram account.

Kobe Bryant’s foundation has been renamed to honor the late basketball great’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna (seen hugging her dad in this February 2016 file photo)

The Mamba Sports Foundation has been renamed the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, Vanessa Bryant, Kobe's widow, announced on her Instagram page on Thursday

The Mamba Sports Foundation has been renamed the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow, announced on her Instagram page on Thursday

‘Because there is no #24 without #2, we have updated the Mamba Sports Foundation to now be called the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation,’ Vanessa Bryant said Thursday on her Instagram account. She is seen left with her late husband in Hollywood in March 2018

‘Because there is no #24 without #2, we have updated the Mamba Sports Foundation to now be called the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation,’ Vanessa Bryant said Thursday on her Instagram account. She is seen left with her late husband in Hollywood in March 2018

‘Our mission remains the same – and stronger than ever – to provide opportunities to young people through sports,’ she wrote.

‘Thank you all for the outpouring of support and your kind donations to date as we carry forth Kobe and Gigi’s legacy.

‘We hope to empower young athletes in a world they left us all to help shape.’

The announcement by Vanessa Bryant comes nearly a week after she laid to rest her late husband and daughter in a private funeral service.

Kobe, 41, and Gianna Bryant were laid to rest at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar, California, last Friday with no photographers present.

Information about the ceremony was revealed in death certificates issued by the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health, which listed burial as the type of deposition for both Bryant and Gianna.

Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks at Staples Center on November 17, 2019 in Los Angeles

Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks at Staples Center on November 17, 2019 in Los Angeles

The funeral for Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna took place at Pacific View Mortuary (above) in Corona del Mar last Friday

The funeral for Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna took place at Pacific View Mortuary (above) in Corona del Mar last Friday

The certificates listed the causes of death as blunt trauma and indicated that they died in a 'rapid' manner in the January 26 crash in the hills of Calabasas

The certificates listed the causes of death as blunt trauma and indicated that they died in a ‘rapid’ manner in the January 26 crash in the hills of Calabasas

Death certificates listed burial as the type of deposition for both Bryant and Gianna

Death certificates listed burial as the type of deposition for both Bryant and Gianna

The certificates listed the causes of death as blunt trauma and indicated that they died in a ‘rapid’ manner in the January 26 crash in the hills of Calabasas.

The Blast was the first to report the death certificates.

Seven others on board the helicopter died in the crash, and on Monday a public memorial service was held for three of them: baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and daughter Alyssa.

Several thousand people poured into the stadium in Anaheim, California, on Monday for a public memorial honoring the award-winning coach of Orange Coast College baseball, who was known for leading his team to four state titles and helping his young players grow and develop on and off the field.

Scores of them were in the stadium, along with members of current local college teams, wearing their jerseys.

The City of Anaheim fire department displays the America Flag as fans arrive for a memorial service honoring baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and their daughter Alyssa at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on  Monday

The City of Anaheim fire department displays the America Flag as fans arrive for a memorial service honoring baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and their daughter Alyssa at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on  Monday

Coach John Altobelli, 56, far right, his wife, Keri, 43, second from left, and his daughter Alyssa, 13, left, also died in the helicopter crash that killed Bryant on January 26 in Calabasas

Coach John Altobelli, 56, far right, his wife, Keri, 43, second from left, and his daughter Alyssa, 13, left, also died in the helicopter crash that killed Bryant on January 26 in Calabasas

People shine their mobile phone lights at the end of a memorial service for coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and their daughter Alyssa at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Monday

Coach John Altobelli, 56, far right, his wife, Keri, 43, second from left, and his daughter Alyssa, 13, left, also died in the helicopter crash that killed Bryant on January 26 in Calabasas

‘We have no clue how many teachers, police officers, firefighters, dads and husbands that he helped develop along the way,’ his longtime friend Josh Belovsky told the crowd.

‘Those are the wins that he cherished the most.’

The 56-year-old coach known as ‘Alto’ won more than 700 games during his 27 years coaching the team and was named coach of the year last year by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

A public memorial is also scheduled for Bryant on February 24 at the Staples Center.

The date pays tribute to the ’24’ jersey number that Bryant wore since the 2006-07 season.

Bryant’s wife Vanessa said in an Instagram post on Monday that she was both grieving and angry over the loss of her husband and daughter.

Vanessa Bryant has made few public appearances since the crash that killed her husband, daughter and seven others and said in the social media post that she had been ‘reluctant’ to put her feelings into words.

‘My brain refuses to accept that both Kobe and Gigi are gone,’ she said, using a nickname for her daughter.

‘I can’t process both at the same time. It’s like I’m trying to process Kobe being gone but my body refuses to accept my Gigi will never come back to me.’

Vanessa said she felt anger at losing both her husband and daughter and has to remind herself to be strong for the couple’s three surviving daughters.

The jerseys of late Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant, right, and his daughter Gianna are draped on the seats the two last sat on at Staples Center, prior to a Lakers' NBA basketball game

The jerseys of late Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant, right, and his daughter Gianna are draped on the seats the two last sat on at Staples Center, prior to a Lakers’ NBA basketball game

Vanessa (pictured L-R with Bryant, their daughter Natalia and Gianna) said she wanted to share her feelings and thoughts openly just in case 'there's anyone out there that’s experienced a loss like this'

Vanessa (pictured L-R with Bryant, their daughter Natalia and Gianna) said she wanted to share her feelings and thoughts openly just in case ‘there’s anyone out there that’s experienced a loss like this’

‘God I wish they were here and this nightmare would be over,’ she said.

‘Praying for all of the victims of this horrible tragedy. Please continue to pray for all.’

The death of Bryant, an 18-time all-star in the National Basketball Association and one of the world’s most admired sports figures, prompted an outpouring of shock and grief from fans and fellow athletes around the globe.

The retired Los Angeles Lakers forward had been on his way to a youth basketball tournament in which he was coaching and his daughter and two other girls aboard the luxury chopper were due to compete.

Federal investigators have not yet determined a cause for the crash in Calabasas, California, outside Los Angeles, but have said the helicopter was flying in dense fog and that there was no evidence of engine failure. 

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