SONICS & STORM FOUNDATION LAUNCHES ‘HOLIDAY ASSIST’ INITIATIVE
Initiative begins tomorrow with Chris Wilcox turkey giveaway
This deserves more press than it gets:
SEATTLE , Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006 – The Sonics & Storm Foundation will launch the organization’s 2006 “Holiday Assist†initiative tomorrow. The Foundation will partner with Sonics and Storm employees, players, fans, ticket holders and local non-profit organizations to support various holiday events and giving campaigns around the community.
The Holiday Assist will tip off tomorrow when Sonics forward Chris Wilcox sponsors his first-annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway at various Boys & Girls Clubs in King County and Community Centers in Seattle . Wilcox, who wears jersey number 54, will personally deliver 540 turkeys to the Rotary Boys & Girls Club, the Yesler Community Center , the Rainer Vista Boys & Girls Club and the Rainer Community Center .
The Sonics ‘Home Court Support,’ which is a group comprised friends and family members of Sonics players, will deliver toys to Children’s Hospital in Seattle on Nov. 22.
The Sonics & Storm Foundation will collect new clothes, toys and houseware items for the Northwest Division of the Salvation Army and other local children’s charities. KeyArena’s West and East Plazas are the collection sites prior to tip off at the following Sonics home games: Friday, Nov. 24, Sunday, Nov. 26, Friday, Dec. 1 and Friday, Dec. 8. Fans who make a charitable donation will receive a voucher for two free tickets to a December Sonics home game.
The third-annual Holidays at the Hardwood program tips off at the Dec. 1 game vs. Indiana . During the holiday season, the Sonics & Storm will partner with local non-profits The Northwest Division Salvation Army, B.R.I.D.G.E, Sparrow Clubs, Northwest’s Child Services and the Share-a-Bear Foundation to provide assistance for local kids and families in need. The Holidays at the Hardwood program collects monetary donations from Sonics fans attending home games at KeyArena during December.
The Northwest Division of the Salvation Army, located in Seattle , offers a wide range of social services in 34 towns and cities in Washington , Montana and northern Idaho . B.R.I.D.G.E stands for Building Relevant Individuals Destined for Growth and Excellence. Its purpose is to serve those who are unable to find the resources needed for success through youth mentorship, entrepreneurialism and transitional/low income housing. As the nation's only youth-based charity of its kind, Sparrow Clubs not only provides financial and emotional support for critically ill children and their families, but also empowers young people to help a child through charitable service experiences. Northwest’s Child serves the special care needs of school-age children and youth disabilities. The Share-a-Bear Foundation’s goal is to provide new teddy bears to children and elders that are in homeless shelters, hospitals and cancer centers, as well as to victims of domestic violence and the orphaned around the world.
Several of the Sonics players will also be in the community assisting those in need during the holiday season. As the Sonics & Storm Foundation’s Holiday Assist continues to develop over the next several days, fans are encouraged to log on to supersonics.com for a list of confirmed events.