Vanessa Bryant Hears 18YO Kid’s Desperate Plea For 4 Siblings After Losing Mother

For a moment, step back in time. A heartbreaking story swept across TikTok in 2024, capturing the attention of millions. It was about Isaiah Hanna-Funmaker, a 17-year-old who had endured more loss and grief than most people face in a lifetime. Despite the pain, he remained a steady source of strength for his family, carrying their burdens while refusing to let go of his own basketball dreams. His resilience and quiet determination resonated deeply with people who saw not just a young athlete but a symbol of hope in the face of unimaginable hardship. One of the people moved by his story was Vanessa Bryant.

Isaiah Hanna-Funmaker, the eldest of five children born to Jacqueline Prescott-Funmaker, is a 6’3″ guard who graduated from Wisconsin Dells High School this year. He’s part of the 2026 recruiting class and is working his way to college. But Isaiah went viral not for his moves on the court but because of his story. He lost his mother on September 2, 2024. That left the then-17-year-old Isaiah the sole guardian of her younger children, including a four-month-old girl at the time. Isaiah posted a TikTok a few months after their mom’s passing, requesting donations to support their younger siblings. That move caught Vanessa Bryant’s eye.

According to the Mamba & Mambacita Foundation profiles, “When Vanessa Bryant saw Isaiah’s TikTok recently, she wanted to help.” While a financial donation would go a long way, Bryant recognized that it was more important to secure Isaiah’s future for the sake of his siblings. “She invited him as her special guest to the Mamba League Invitational — a first step in supporting his college basketball dreams.” The Mamba League Invitational took place on August 23 and 24, Kobe Bryant’s birthday and Mamba Day.

Media attention on these young athletes put them on the scouting radar with higher chances of getting college offers. Isaiah went from being a Kobe Bryant fan to playing in the Mamba Invitational. Vanessa and the academy shared highlights of how that went. “My first time in LA, Mamba City, I used to look at Kobe as a little kid, just sitting there on my TV, just looking at him, you know what I mean…it was amazing. Now to be something that he was a part of…”

He apparently won a medal, and perhaps something will come out of this opportunity. He was, anyway, grateful for being there. “Vanessa Bryant, his wife to look at my story personally, it’s truly like I can’t explain how more amazing it can get. But I’m truly thankful for the opportunity,” the 18-year-old said.

The academy also said, “@MambaMambacitaSports is proud to stand with Isaiah as he continues his journey, and we’re committed to finding more ways to support him along the way. 🖤” And Isaiah’s journey is far from done.

The Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation is the heart of Vanessa Bryant’s philanthropic mission, carrying forward the legacy of Kobe and Gianna Bryant. Created in the aftermath of the tragic 2020 helicopter crash, the Foundation exists to empower underserved athletes and create equal opportunities for young boys and girls in sports. Its work reflects both Kobe’s dedication to mentoring the next generation and Gianna’s passion for the women’s game, ensuring that their dreams continue to inspire action.

At its core, the Foundation provides scholarships, grants, and training opportunities to youth who might not otherwise have access. One of its most notable partnerships has been with Nike, which helped relaunch Kobe’s signature line while funneling proceeds toward the Foundation’s mission. The Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita Sweet 16” honored Gianna and her love for the game, celebrating the legacy she and Kobe built to inspire all generations to embrace the Mamba Mentality.

Released via Exclusive Access on the SNKRS app and through SNKRS Pass reservations in Los Angeles, the shoe prioritized fans and young hoopers who had embodied Kobe and Gigi’s journey from the beginning. Most importantly, profits from the launch were donated directly to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, funding initiatives that give underserved athletes, especially young girls, the resources to thrive. So the Isiah Hanna-Funmaker story is just one of many that Vanessa is pulling off.

Vanessa Bryant revived this young hooper’s story

After losing his mother last year, Isiah Hanna-Funmaker would go on to make a GoFundMe page asking for help to support his siblings. As of this writing, he’s raised almost $80,000.

Against all odds, he didn’t give up on basketball. After he graduated this May, he moved to Miami with a heavy heart. He expressed how difficult it was to leave his siblings behind, but it was a necessary step to go to college. He seemingly has some maternal relatives to rely on for his siblings.

The Mamba Invitational was another step towards it. And he understandably relates to Vanessa and her daughters, Natalia, Brianna, and Capri, who lost a father and a sister. “You know loss as much as I do. It’s a sad thing in this world, it truly is. All we can do is just keeping going forward and keep pushing out. And you’ve done an amazing job with that, Vanessa giving all these kids a wonderful chance to feel this…” From the looks of it, the teen did speak to some scouts and trainers at the event.

With Vanessa’s support, Isaiah’s story is regaining attention on a much larger scale. Kyrie Irving, as well as Vanessa’s close-knit circle of Khloe Kardashian, Gabrielle Union, and Laura Govan, dropped likes on this clip. Fingers crossed, this translates to big things in young Isaiah’s future.