NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) - A Virginia congressman says pro basketball star Allen Iverson is donating money to help the Newport News Police Department continue its gun buyback program.

Congressman Robert "Bobby" Scott announced Wednesday night the Denver Nuggets player is donating $100,000 to the Peninsula Community Foundation. Scott said he hopes the donation will prompt other contributions.

Iverson said in a statement that he remembers growing up in Newport News and Hampton and his efforts are "more than worth it" if the program "can prevent one more child from being killed and another family from crying and mourning the death of another loved one."

Residents turned in about 400 guns in just a few hours in a buyback on December 15. Police used donations to exchange gift cards for the guns, but said the weapons kept coming in after the gift cards were gone.

Information from: Daily Press, http://www.dailypress.com