Goodwill Games

12/14/2000

The Atlanta Hawks Help Goodwill Games and TNT Donate 70 Basketballs to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America

The Atlanta Hawks gave an assist to the Goodwill Games and TNT (Turner Network Television) by helping make a special donation of 70 basketballs, on behalf of their fellow Time Warner owned companies, to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Tuesday, December 12.

The donation was made prior to the nationally televised Sacramento Kings vs. Atlanta Hawks game at Philips Arena. On hand to make the donation TNT Director of Sports Marketing & Promotions Bo Heiner, Goodwill Games Director of Public Relations Jeff Pomeroy and Atlanta Hawks Director of Community Relations Jim Washington .

Accepting the donation on behalf of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Atlanta was their Executive Vice President of Operations John Mack, along with volunteer Darryl Smith and ten club members from local Atlanta chapters. Hawks players Jim Jackson, a Boys & Girls Club member as a youth, and Alan Henderson, a Goodwill Games alumni (1990), were also part of the donation that provided the ten local Boys & Girls Clubs members with autographed basketballs signed by the entire 2000-2001 Hawks team.

The additional 60 basketballs are being sent to the Boys & Girls Clubs national headquarters in Atlanta for distribution.

"The donation is indicative of our commitment to kids and the important life lessons sports teaches them. We are happy that these basketballs will be put to good use," said McNerney.

"The Boys & Girls Clubs provide a great atmosphere for kids and give them somewhere to go instead of hanging out on the streets," said Atlanta Hawks guard Jackson.

"I spent many years at the Boys & Girls Club growing up in my neighborhood and continue to give back to that organization. I'm happy to see someone else making a contribution to help with the success of kids," added Jackson on his history as a Boys & Girls Clubs member.

The relationship between the Goodwill Games and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America dates back to the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York, where Turner Broadcasting donated $1 for every volunteer hour pledged to local Boys & Girls Clubs across the country through a Goodwill Games program called the SuperChallenge. The charity drive raised almost $3 million nationwide.

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