Contact: Lafeea Watson
Communications Manager
The Salvation Army, Metro Atlanta
P: 404-486-2912
C: 404-550-4537
Lafeea_watson@uss.salvationarmy.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Salvation Army Partners with NBA Retired Players Association for All-Star Youth Sports Tournament
(March 18, 2010) Childhood obesity is on the rise throughout the country, tripling in the past thirty years. Recent studies have shown that nearly one-third of elementary schools have eliminated schedule recess, and almost one in four children, grades 9-12, do not participate in any free time physical activity. In response to these results, and with the knowledge that a number of schools throughout Metro Atlanta have drastically reduced or eliminated physical education programs from their curriculum, The Salvation Army youth programs are ramping up their efforts to improve the physical fitness of local youth. One such effort is the All Star Youth Basketball Workshop to be held March 18-30th at The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center (967 Dewey Street, Atlanta, GA 30310).
“Thanks to collaboration with INNER GOOD HEALTH & FITNESS INC., and the Atlanta Chapter of The National Basketball Retired Players Association, we are teaming up local boys and girls for two weeks of fitness training and team sports,” explains Ikenna Ubaka, Program Manager at The Center.
According to Ubaka, youth in grades 6 and 7 will participate in fitness sessions and basketball skills clinics led by INNER GOOD fitness instructors, The Atlanta Battlecats (Womens Basketball Team, and NBA Legends from the Atlanta Chapter of NBRPA. The sessions will conclude with the Center’s Annual Julius “Dr. J” Biddy Ball Tournament on March 30th.
“The Atlanta Chapter of NBA Legends is proud to have a role in helping The Salvation Army enrich and improve the physical and social well-being of local youth,” says Cory Blackwell, President of the NBRPA Atlanta Chapter. “The Legends of Basketball's mission is to promote basketball and enhance the sports image by assisting Members in building community relationships and fostering support for charitable activities. Several NBA Legends will be on-hand to encourage and instruct these kids on the importance of physical fitness, teamwork, and making healthy lifestyle choices.”
The Salvation Army Youth Recreational and Character Building Programs strive to meet the increasing challenges of Metro Atlanta youth by providing the essential recreational, social, educational, and social development tools they need to live happier and healthier lives. To find out more about The Salvation Army’s youth programs visit www.salvationarmyatlanta.org.
The Salvation Army Atlanta All Star Week schedule is below.
1) All-Star Team practice and fitness sessions:
March 18th-19th (6:00pm - 7:45pm)
March 20th- (8:00am - 9:30am)
March 22nd & 25nd (6:00pm - 7:45pm)
2) Basketball Skills Clinic with representatives from Inner Good Health & Fitness, The Atlanta Battlecats (Women's Basketball Team), Atlanta Chapter of NBA Legends, and King of Hoops:
Saturday, March 20th ( 10am - 1 pm)
3) Atlanta Biddy Ball Tournament Semi-Finals (8 Teams competing for a spot in the "Dr. J" Tournament)
Saturday, March 27th 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
4) The 2nd Annual Salvation Army Julius "Dr. J." Erving Biddy Ball Tournament
Tuesday, March 30th 4:30 pm (doors open at 3:30pm)
About NBRPA: Founded in 1992 by NBA Legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson, the NBRPA is a non-profit Association comprised of former professional basketball players of the NBA, ABA and Harlem Globetrotters. Working in direct partnerships with the NBA and the NBPA, the Legends of Basketball's mission is to promote basketball and enhance the sports image by assisting Members in building community relationships and fostering support for charitable activities; offering the Dave DeBusschere NBRPA Scholarship Fund for members and their children; monitoring the pension plan; and creating revenue-earning opportunities such as special appearances and international basketball tours.
About The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to carry out those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyatlanta.org.