NBA CARES ALL-STAR COMMUNITY CARAVAN TIPS OFF IN HOUSTON ON WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13
– More than 3,000 NBA Family Members, Partners, and Volunteers to Participate –
NEW YORK, NY – February 12, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The NBA Cares All-Star Community Caravan tips off on Wednesday, Feb. 13, with a visit to pediatric patients at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital led by NBA and WNBA players and legends. Throughout the five-day Community Caravan, members of the NBA family – including All-Stars, NBA and WNBA players and legends, and NBA Development League players – will team up with partners and guests on more than 30 hands-on service projects and activities designed to support those in need throughout Houston.
The NBA Cares All-Star Community Caravan continues on Thursday, Feb. 14, with BBVA Compass Team. Works. In SchoolsSM events at two Houston elementary schools, featuring educational and fitness-related activities and donations to help students achieve academic success. That evening, the NBA FIT All-Star Youth Celebration, with participation by 500 youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston and Houston Parks and Recreation and support from Exxon-Mobil, will take place following the tip-off of NBA All-Star Jam Session at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Additional Community Caravan events at Jam Session include the second annual NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified Sports Basketball Game, with support from The Coca-Cola Company; Dribble to Stop Diabetes clinics in collaboration with the American Diabetes Association and Sanofi US; the 15th annual NBA/NWBA All-Star Wheelchair Classic; a Special Olympics basketball clinic; and a wheelchair basketball clinic.
For the sixth consecutive year, the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service will highlight the Community Caravan. On Friday, Feb. 15, more than 1,500 members of the NBA family, including the East and West NBA All-Stars, will join the Houston Food Bank, KaBOOM!, Rebuilding Together and Share Our Strength, along with adidas, Kia, Reliant, SAP, and State Farm to support families in need throughout Houston as part of the Day of Service. The group will spread out across Houston to participate in five home renovations, the construction of a new playground, and food sorting and packaging for distribution to local residents.
“NBA All-Star is an opportunity for the entire NBA family to join together to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families,” said NBA Senior Vice President of Community Relations Todd Jacobson. “The NBA All-Star Community Caravan features a number of community events and activities to support those in need throughout Houston, while underscoring the shared commitment of the league and its partners to be leaders in social responsibility.”
Throughout NBA All-Star, four children from Make-A-Wish and their families will be treated to an unforgettable experience, including one-on-one time with the East and West NBA All-Stars. In addition, as part of the NBA Coaches for Kids program, 30 youngsters from Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston will attend the East and West All-Star practices followed by a meet-and-greet with one of the All-Star coaches. As part of the NBA Cares Hoops for Troops program, the league will also provide continued support of our nation’s military by hosting more than 1,000 service men and women at several NBA All-Star events throughout the weekend. In addition, a portion of the NBA All-Star FIT Run, Walk & Dribble ticket sales, with support from Reliant, will benefit the USO.
NBA Cares is the league’s global social responsibility initiative that builds on the NBA’s long tradition of addressing important social issues worldwide. Through this umbrella program, the NBA and its teams and players have donated more than $210 million to charity, provided more than 2.3 million hours of hands-on service to the community, and created more than 760 places where kids and families can live, learn, or play.
