Gooden Receives Community Assist Award for October
NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2005 – In recognition of Drew Gooden’s community outreach efforts and on-going generosity, the NBA announced today it will honor the Cleveland Cavaliers’ star with the Community Assist Award for October.
Last month, Gooden dedicated The Drew Gooden Reading & Learning Center, presented by Allstate Insurance, at the East End Neighborhood House. Gooden selected the site and contributed $10,000 to the project, which included the renovation of three classrooms in the 100-year-old facility. Renovations included new paint and carpeting in all three rooms, new blinds, bookshelves, six computer desks and four computers, 1,000 new books, custom basketball bookshelves, storage bins, photographs, a framed Gooden jersey and chalkboards that resemble the Cavaliers scoreboard. In addition, Gooden purchased the World Book Online Reference Center software for the Center’s computers, which allows children and parents to access the information from home.
Gooden’s involvement in the community is year-round. Prior to the start of the 2005-06 NBA season, he purchased 10 Cavaliers season tickets to be distributed to underprivileged children in northeast Ohio. During the school year, he serves as the spokesperson for the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Newspapers in Education program. He will personally participate in the NBA’s Season of Giving by donating 250 turkeys and bags of Thanksgiving groceries and Christmas trees to families in need in the community.
“I am blessed to be in a position where I can help others and want to inspire kids and families to dream big and achieve,” said Gooden. “I am thrilled to call Cleveland my second home and am committed to giving back just as I have in the Bay Area. (Oakland, Calif.)”
Since his rookie season, Drew Gooden has established himself as a community all-star in both his hometown of Oakland and the cities in which he has played. In July 2004, Gooden established The Drew Gooden Giving Fund in conjunction with the East Bay Community Foundation. The mission of the Fund is to provide opportunity and support in Gooden’s home communities. Through his Fund, Gooden is establishing a financial literacy program with the goal of providing exposure and access to careers in high finance for kids who might not have had the opportunity otherwise. Gooden plans to provide internships with a partner financial firm for five high school students in the Bay Area, five students in Cleveland and five students in Kansas City. He has also contributed $80,000 to Scholar Athletes, Inc. (Bay Area), the academic and athletic program in which he participated.
As the recipient of the NBA Community Assist Award, Gooden will receive the David Robinson Plaque with the inscription, “Following the standard set by NBA Legend David Robinson who improved the community piece by piece.” In addition to the plaque, a $5,000 gift will be given to Gooden’s charity of choice, the East End Neighborhood House.
The league presents the NBA Community Assist Award monthly to recognize players for their charitable efforts. The award honors the NBA player who reflects the passion that the league and its players have for their communities. Other nominees for October included, Chauncey Billups-Detroit Pistons, Josh Childress-Atlanta Hawks and Peja Stojakovic-Sacramento Kings.
NBA CARES is the league's global community outreach initiative that builds on the NBA's long tradition of addressing important social issues. Over the next five years, the league, players and teams will raise and contribute $100 million for charity, donate more than 1 million hours of hands-on volunteer service to communities around the world, and build more than 100 places where kids can learn and play. NBA CARES will work with internationally-recognized youth-serving programs that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes including: UNICEF; Reading Is Fundamental; Boys and Girls Clubs of America; Charities Aid Foundation; American/International Red Cross; Feed the Children, and many others.
NBA.com
NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2005 – In recognition of Drew Gooden’s community outreach efforts and on-going generosity, the NBA announced today it will honor the Cleveland Cavaliers’ star with the Community Assist Award for October.
Last month, Gooden dedicated The Drew Gooden Reading & Learning Center, presented by Allstate Insurance, at the East End Neighborhood House. Gooden selected the site and contributed $10,000 to the project, which included the renovation of three classrooms in the 100-year-old facility. Renovations included new paint and carpeting in all three rooms, new blinds, bookshelves, six computer desks and four computers, 1,000 new books, custom basketball bookshelves, storage bins, photographs, a framed Gooden jersey and chalkboards that resemble the Cavaliers scoreboard. In addition, Gooden purchased the World Book Online Reference Center software for the Center’s computers, which allows children and parents to access the information from home.
Gooden’s involvement in the community is year-round. Prior to the start of the 2005-06 NBA season, he purchased 10 Cavaliers season tickets to be distributed to underprivileged children in northeast Ohio. During the school year, he serves as the spokesperson for the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Newspapers in Education program. He will personally participate in the NBA’s Season of Giving by donating 250 turkeys and bags of Thanksgiving groceries and Christmas trees to families in need in the community.
“I am blessed to be in a position where I can help others and want to inspire kids and families to dream big and achieve,” said Gooden. “I am thrilled to call Cleveland my second home and am committed to giving back just as I have in the Bay Area. (Oakland, Calif.)”
Since his rookie season, Drew Gooden has established himself as a community all-star in both his hometown of Oakland and the cities in which he has played. In July 2004, Gooden established The Drew Gooden Giving Fund in conjunction with the East Bay Community Foundation. The mission of the Fund is to provide opportunity and support in Gooden’s home communities. Through his Fund, Gooden is establishing a financial literacy program with the goal of providing exposure and access to careers in high finance for kids who might not have had the opportunity otherwise. Gooden plans to provide internships with a partner financial firm for five high school students in the Bay Area, five students in Cleveland and five students in Kansas City. He has also contributed $80,000 to Scholar Athletes, Inc. (Bay Area), the academic and athletic program in which he participated.
As the recipient of the NBA Community Assist Award, Gooden will receive the David Robinson Plaque with the inscription, “Following the standard set by NBA Legend David Robinson who improved the community piece by piece.” In addition to the plaque, a $5,000 gift will be given to Gooden’s charity of choice, the East End Neighborhood House.
The league presents the NBA Community Assist Award monthly to recognize players for their charitable efforts. The award honors the NBA player who reflects the passion that the league and its players have for their communities. Other nominees for October included, Chauncey Billups-Detroit Pistons, Josh Childress-Atlanta Hawks and Peja Stojakovic-Sacramento Kings.
NBA CARES is the league's global community outreach initiative that builds on the NBA's long tradition of addressing important social issues. Over the next five years, the league, players and teams will raise and contribute $100 million for charity, donate more than 1 million hours of hands-on volunteer service to communities around the world, and build more than 100 places where kids can learn and play. NBA CARES will work with internationally-recognized youth-serving programs that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes including: UNICEF; Reading Is Fundamental; Boys and Girls Clubs of America; Charities Aid Foundation; American/International Red Cross; Feed the Children, and many others.
NBA.com
