Emmy-nominated sports journalist Taylor Rooks hosted a basketball-themed adoption event on April 14, 2026, to help find a permanent home for Jeff, a rescue dog from Wags and Walks. The event, called Shoot and Score, combined playful basketball games with interviews and reflections on Rooks’ career and her foundation’s mission to foster community engagement. Rooks highlighted the unique communal power of live sports in today’s fragmented digital world, noting that sports remain a shared cultural experience unlike music or television, which have become siloed by algorithms.

Throughout the event, Rooks emphasized the importance of an active, loving home for Jeff and shared personal anecdotes, including her trust in NBA star Tyrese Haliburton as a potential dog-sitter and her aspiration to interview LeBron James. Inspired by her grandmother, Rooks also discussed her foundation’s work supporting underserved students and teachers. The event concluded with Rooks gifting Jeff toys and expressing a heartfelt connection to the dog, calling the day a meaningful success for both animal welfare and community visibility.