Furqan Ali, director of Fort Wayne’s BEST men’s league, has a deep appreciation for the game of basketball and a passion for the men who play the game. As an entrepreneur with a website design business and an indie record label, Mr. Ali seeks to empower these young men through his powerful testimony and “in your face” relationships. His desire is to show them what they can become if they put effort behind what they do for the good of the community. “I believe that our society has given up on many of these young men and labelled them as those who are not worth helping. There are programs for youth and teens, but society says that once you're 18, you’re on your own. I believe that this is when the help and encouragement is most needed, when manhood takes over. Many of these men did not have a positive Man in their life to be an example for them," Ali states. “I want them to see that though basketball is a game, the lessons learned can and should be applied to life. These values are intrinsic to success on as well as off the court."

Furqan's wife, Rena, is a basketball fan in the true sense of the word. Having a heart for the urban community, she joins her husband in making a difference in the lives of the men in the league. Often behind the scenes, Rena maintains the league website and volunteers throughout the league to help things run smoothly.