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Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard is one of 10 finalists for the 2013 Seasonlong Kia Community Assist Award. For the first time, fans can help determine the winner by voting on the NBA Facebook page. Voting tips off today and runs through May 17.
"We all come from different backgrounds. I think it's important for everyone, especially kids, to show respect to each other," said Lillard. "I've lived in three completely different communities and have seen bullying firsthand. If I can make a difference and help kids be more aware of their actions, that's a big deal for me. I want to be a part of that."
Trail Blazers players JJ Hickson and Will Barton, assistant coaches David Vanterpool and Dale Osbourne, player programs director Hersey Hawkins and Senior Vice President of Communications Michael Lewellen joined community leaders for an assembly at Roosevelt High School in north Portland to celebrate Black History Month and students who improved their writing skills and overall academic success.
90-year old Leonard Holland celebrates his special day with his favorite player
Trail Blazer guard hosts local kids to stress importance of fitness
"The Blazers have been wonderful to St. Mary's forever," said Lynda Walker, St. Mary's director of development. "(Vice President of Community Relations) Traci Rose and her team just have embraced these kids for 25 years. This was a surprise for our boys today and they didn't know it was going to happen and you can just tell by looking around, seeing the smiles. One boy just came up and said 'This has been the best Christmas of my life.' … It means the world to these kids. One of the boys said to me 'We're all going to go to sleep happy tonight.'"
The Portland Trail Blazers have teamed up for a fourth year with Genentech and the Children's Cancer Association (CCA) for the Block Out Cancer campaign. As part of the program, Genentech donates $25 to CCA each time the Trail Blazers block a shot. Last season, Genentech and the Make It Better Foundation made a combined donation of $15,000 to CCA.
Montclair Elementary School is nestled on a dead end street in a tree-lined residential neighborhood just a few blocks from the border between Portland and Beaverton. There are churches and parks with rolling hills just a stone's throw of the one-level brick school. Whether by design or happenstance, it's a place that feels safe.
Trail Blazers Victor Claver and Meyers Leonard play Santa at an Albina Head Start Classroom.
Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome threatened to derail Aldridge's career before it started. The same heart ailment threatened the life of 12-year-old Dylan Backalar. The two met Monday before the Blazers visited the Detroit Pistons, as Aldridge signed autographs, posed for pictures and chatted with one of his biggest Detroit-area fans. Backalar, who was wearing a black Aldridge jersey, was shy and quiet around his favorite basketball player, but he's making noise off the court. For his mitzvah, Backalar is raising money for the Wes Leonard Heart Team, a charity that is trying to put defibrillators in Detroit-area schools. The Wes Leonard Heart Team exists in honor of 16-year-old Wes Leonard, the Fennville, Mich., player who collapsed and died from cardiac arrest after making a winning shot. Beckalar, who had heart surgery three years ago, "plays basketball every chance (he) gets."
Now you can learn to play basketball the Trail Blazers way! We are hosting four basketball clinics for kids ages three years old through 8th grade on Sunday, December 9 and Friday, December 21. Each clinic be three hours long at the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation Center and feature an appearance by a player and two tickets to a future game. For more information or to register your child, please click here.
Jerome Kersey and the BlazerDancers are featured in this music video produced by the Portland Trail Blazers with Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel and One World Chorus. For more info about CCA, visit http://JoyRx.org.
Fans will be welcomed by a group of Marines from the 6th Engineer Support Battalion as they enter the arena. The Marines, who will be joined by volunteers from Les Schwab Tire Centers, will be collecting toys for Toys For Tots, a program spearheaded by U.S. Marine Corps Reserves that collects and distributes toys to disadvantaged children.
Oregon Red Cross volunteers collected just over $10,500 in donations from Trail Blazers fans as they entered the arena Thursday evening. The Paul G. Allen Foundation and Wells Fargo each pledged to match the donation up to $10,000, bringing the total donation to $30,500.
Hurricane Sandy has affected millions of people across the North Eastern United States. The NBA is joining forces across the country in support of the relief efforts for all those experiencing hardship. The Trail Blazers would also like to send our thoughts of encouragement and healing to our NBA families at the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and the Washington Wizards.
Harry Glickman has changed the city of Portland. There's no two ways around it. Lovingly referred to as "The Father of Oregon Professional Sports," Glickman is the mastermind behind bringing our beloved Portland Trail Blazers to the Rose City and giving Oregonians across the state a common team to root for.
On Saturday, September 8th, Banfield Pet Hospital and the Portland Trail Blazers teamed up to celebrate the official re-opening of Chimney Park's Dog Park. Chimney Park was voted by Trail Blazers fans as the Portland Public Park most deserving of an official "Dog Park Makeover" during an online voting contest held last season on trailblazers.com. As part of the makeover, Chimney Park received a new water source, deep can for waste, two double entry gates, two picnic tables, new paw-friendly bark chips, mended fences and filled holes.
The greening movement of sports continues at the second annual Green Sports Alliance Summit this week in Seattle. Summit discussions include how to develop effective operations to enhance environmental impacts, how sports can help influence communities to embrace environmental practices....to fan engagement programs that include sustainable messaging, and many more authentic approaches towards connecting fans and corporations, leveraging our passion for sports to create better communities.
The Portland Children's Museum received a $25,000 grant from the Portland Trail Blazers' make it better fund today at a ceremony introducing the organization's newest team members.
The Portland Trail Blazers annual Nike Hoops Camp encourages all kids ages 7-13 to learn from some of the best coaches around on the teams very own practice floor. It doesnt matter whether youre a star on your middle school team or just in the mood to try something new; all skill levels are welcome to come. But you dont have to leave the way you came.
For the third year in a row the Brian Grant Foundation transformed the Rose Garden into the incredible Shake It Till We Make It! Celebrity Dinner Gala to raise funds to support the fight against Parkinsons Disease.
The Portland Children's Museum received a $25,000 grant from the Portland Trail Blazers' make it better fund today at a ceremony introducing the organization's newest team members.
Friday afternoon was a beautiful day for a celebration. The warm rays of sunshine were put to good use as the Trail Blazers, Windermere volunteers, Boys & Girls Club representatives and oodles of kids gathered at the Meyer Memorial Boys & Girls Club in Sellwood to commemorate the opening of the newly refurbished center.
The Portland Rose Festival is one of those traditions that brings out the warm and fuzzy feeling in Portland natives and transplants alike. Representing the Rose City and exacting a feeling of camaraderie, the two-and-half-week celebration is fun for all while delivering the message of bettering our community.
On Monday, Trail Blazers Interim Head Coach Kaleb Canales and make it better paid a visit to a group of students at Reynolds High School. After receiving a heartfelt email from the Sarah Ehinger, a Reynolds teacher about the students lack of motivation in the classroom, Coach Canales felt inclined to stop by and tell his story.
At 2:18 pm Pacific Standard Time on June 5th, 1977, pandemonium erupted across the Pacific Northwest after Philadelphias last ditch effort rimmed short, giving the Trail Blazers a 109-107 victory in Game 6 to become the first and only squad from Rip City to be crowned champions. Within seconds of the final whistle sounding and the clock striking triple zero, the 12,666 fans in attendance at Veterans Memorial Coliseum rushed the floor.
The Portland Trail Blazers have teamed up with Wells Fargo to provide a $20,000 donation to the nonprofit Start Making a Reader Today (SMART). A check presentation will be held at halftime of the Trail Blazers' final home game tonight.
Trail Blazers big-man Kurt Thomas joined Blaze the Trail Cat and Kia Motors to honor the efforts of students at Russell Academy. Each student was challenged to keep track of their spring break reading by logging the minutes that he or she read each day. Their efforts were be celebrated by Kia Motors and the Trail Blazers' Read to Achieve initiative, which encourages youth to read outside of school.
Nicolas Batum, Blaze the Trail Cat and Kia Motors spent an afternoon earlier this week teaching students of Bilquist Elementary the importance of reading. The kids gathered for a riotous assembly to learn secrets about Blaze and Batum through reading.
The Portland Trail Blazers celebrated a public-private partnership with the City of Portland, the Portland Development Commission and Corix Utilities through an unveiling of the Corix Living Wall at a press conference at the Rose Garden on Wednesday.
Portland Trail Blazers President Larry Miller and Christenson Electric President Mark Walter got an assist from Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber to unveil what is now the region's largest publicly available electric vehicle charging site on Friday, March 30.
Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews is the recipient of the Kia Community Assist Award for February in recognition of his outstanding efforts in the community and his ongoing philanthropic and charitable work, the NBA announced today.
The Trail Blazers third annual NBA Fit Spring Break Hoops Camp took place March 26 through March 28 at PCC Sylvania.
The camp, sponsored by Rebound Orthopedic and Neurosurgery, featured appearances from Interim Head Coach Kaleb Canales and guards Jamal Crawford and Wesley Matthews.
The camp, sponsored by Rebound Orthopedic and Neurosurgery, featured appearances from Interim Head Coach Kaleb Canales and guards Jamal Crawford and Wesley Matthews.
Trail Blazers rookie Nolan Smith, Blazer the Trail Cat and other Trail Blazers staff members participated in an interactive, fun assembly to congratulate the Felida Elementary community on their continued excellence in raising funds for the American Heart Association through the Hoops for Heart and Jump Rope for Heart programs.
Trail Blazers Hasheem Thabeet and Jonny Flynn spent the afternoon with kids from the Children's Cancer Association in Tualatin at Portland's practice facility. The visit was part of the Block Out Cancer program, a partnership between Genentech, the CCA and the Trail Blazers. Genentech donates $25 to CCA every time the Trail Blazers block a shot.
On Friday, March 2nd, Harrison Park School exploded with screaming applause. Portlands own Rhino, Craig Smith, paid tribute to Dr. Seuss birthday by visiting 400 deserving students as a part of NBA Cares Read to Achieve initiative.
Volunteers dont give back for recognition, they do it because giving back warms their souls.
Its for this reason the Portland Trail Blazers and Hands On Greater Portland partner each year to present the Heart of the Community Awards. Started in 2002, the awards aim to give a deserving nod to those volunteers who carry the banner of volunteerism deep into the Portland community.
Its for this reason the Portland Trail Blazers and Hands On Greater Portland partner each year to present the Heart of the Community Awards. Started in 2002, the awards aim to give a deserving nod to those volunteers who carry the banner of volunteerism deep into the Portland community.
Nolan Smith has been in pressure situations before. After all, he headlined at a top-flight high school program at Oak Hill Academy before playing four years at Duke, the preeminent college hoops program in the world. He's won National Championships and has been named First Team All American, honors that are typically bestowed upon those who have the ability to remain cool and calm under stressful conditions.
The Trail Blazers will pay tribute to some of Portlands African American leaders throughout February. Trail Blazers president Larry Miller will participate in the Get in the Game Barbershop Initiative. The event, created by former honoree Karanja Crews, promotes reading and educating youth about African American history. Miller will also be honored by SEI at its Black History Makers event on February 27.
Reaching and Empowering All People Inc. (REAP) will host the 2012 Men of Legacy Luncheon on February 16, 12pm-1:30pm (pre-reception at 11:30am) at Rose Garden, Rose Room, One Court Center, Portland, OR 97227. The cost of the luncheon is $25.00 dollars. Registration is available online at www.reapusa.org. Students are admitted for FREE.
On a January afternoon in Portland it was raining. No big surprise there as the wet and cold are trademarks of winter in the Pacific Northwest. The difference on this day came at the hands of Portland Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews. Fresh off a six-game road trip, he spent the better part of the afternoon at a local Fred Meyer kicking off the second annual Fred Meyer Coat Drive.
The saying "Home for the Holidays" rings very close to our hearts this year. Trail Blazers basketball is officially back and starting here at the Rose Garden during the best time, the holiday season. This year, we're excited to share a handful of very special stories about some of the local charities that truly symbolize what it means to be a Trail Blazer. Each of these non-profits has dedicated themselves to the same mission that the Trail Blazers have, to make it better for children and their families where they live, learn and play.
The Trail Blazers teamed up with Providence Health & Services, Central City Concern and several community and corporate partners and local agencies to serve 5,000 homeless, underserved and/or critically-low income individuals during the 16th annual Harvest Dinner at the Rose Garden Thursday afternoon.
The Portland Trail Blazers have partnered with Wells Fargo to tip-off the month of November with its inaugural Can Hunger initiative, an organized effort to raise awareness and help address the growing issue of food insecurity by benefiting Oregon Food Bank.
Ever involved in the community, three high-level members of the Portland Trail Blazers organization participated in the Portland Schools Foundation Principal for Almost a Day program on Thursday. Alumni Ambassador Chris Dudley and VP of Communications and Community Relations Traci Rose acted as principals and Chief Operating Officer Sarah Mensah hosted the luncheon honoring the partnership between schools and the community.
Blaze and make it better volunteers were out in force Saturday, October 8 at the Portland Marathon Kids Fun Run and Festival at the Lincoln High School track. From the pop-a-shot to the water station to the medal awards, make it better volunteers were everywhere.
Rick and Nona King seemed to do everything right. They met at church and courted for around two years before getting married. A few years later, they had their first child, a son. Another couple of years, another son. With a household of four, it made sense to squirrel away any savings they could muster in an attempt to buy their own home.
The 'Home Team Challenge' campaign tips off Thursday, Sept. 15, with the largest one-day build in the 30-year history of Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East.
The city of Portland welcomed sports and sustainability executives from across the country earlier this month for the inaugural Green Sports Alliance Summit. The three-day event, hosted by the Green Sports Alliance (GSA), utilized an array of stories, case studies, lectures, panels, breakout groups and site visits to demonstrate and share the best sustainability practices with industry leaders.
For the fourth straight summer, representatives from the Portland Trail Blazers - including broadcaster/alum Antonio Harvey, assistant coach Kaleb Canales and ambassador Dale Schleuter - embark on a road trip in Kia Sorentos and head out of town to meet Trail Blazers fans and host youth basketball clinics in Medford and Eugene.
The city of Portland welcomed sports and sustainability executives from across the country this week for the inaugural Green Sports Alliance Summit. The three-day event, hosted by the Green Sports Alliance (GSA), utilized an array of stories, case studies, lectures, panels, breakout groups and site visits to demonstrate and share the best sustainability practices with industry leaders.
Glitz and glam, humor and humility. Uniting to fight Parkinsons disease. The second annual Brian Grant Shake It Till We Make It! Celebrity Gala took place at the Rose Garden Sunday night. The home of the Portland Trail Blazers was transformed into a spectacular ball room to host the hundreds of guests in attendance, all committed to raising money for an important cause, the battle against Parkinsons.
From recreational players to elite competitors, Trail Blazers Street Jam has games for all ages and abilities. All net proceeds from Street Jam benefit Special Olympics Oregon, a non-profit statewide organization whose theme is to "Inspire Greatness" in athletes, volunteers, and the community.
Monday morning saw the kickoff of Nate McMillan's Nike Hoops Camp at the Trail Blazers practice facility in Tualatin. The five-day camp focuses on important aspects of the game like fundamentals
As the summer progresses, more and more teams of make it better volunteers are getting out in and around Portland. On a recent Sunday morning, a make it better team participated in the Be the One Run 5K Run and Walk along Naito Parkway. The Be the One Run benefited the Be the Match Registry, which offers people the unique opportunity to help a patient by donating bone marrow or umbilical cord blood.
The Nike make it better Hoops Clinics tipped off with more than 100 campers in Oregon City July 14. Clinic director Todd Bosma, and the exceptional staff of make it better coaches, met the eager and boisterous group of campers in the old Oregon City High School gymnasium for a morning filled with Trail Blazers basketball, laughter and a couple of special guests.
The make it better summer hoops coaches piled into two new Kia Sorentos and ventured up I-5 for the only Washington stop on the 2011 Kia Motors Presents Statewide Summer Tour, at Ridgefield High School. The kids, most of whom had come from another sport camp that morning, were eager to learn the play basketball the Trail Blazers way.
The Trail Blazers tipped off the 2011 Statewide Summer Tour, presented by Kia Motors, on the first Thursday in July at the Police Activities League Gym in northeast Portland. More than 50 eager young hoopers learned Blazers basketball from the make it better hoops coaches, led by Todd Bosma.
A group of Portland Trail Blazers representatives will hit the road for the fourth consecutive summer to host youth basketball clinics, visit broadcast affiliates and meet Trail Blazers fans throughout the state during the 2011 Kia Motors make it better Statewide Summer Tour.
On a sunny day in mid-June, make it better employee volunteers teamed up with Windermere staff to spend the morning at the Trail Blazers Boys & Girls Club getting the facility ready for a flurry of activity as the club staff prepares to host nearly 1,500 club members over the summer months. The volunteer efforts were a part of a day-long community celebration hosted by Windermere Real Estate, the make it better foundation, and the Trail Blazers celebrating the completion of facility upgrades which included a Blazerized face lift to the lobby and soundproofing in the gymnasium.
Parkroses Russell Academy held a special celebration with help from Trail Blazers Broadcaster Antonio Harvey and Blaze the Trail Cat on Friday. This year, Russell Academy finished first out of 594 schools in Oregon, southwest Washington and Idaho in the Pennies for Patients campaign. Pennies for Patients is a three-week challenge, hosted by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, where students collect change, host events and raise other funds for patients fighting those cancers.
Another day, another parade. Trail Blazers mascot Blaze and some of the youngest citizens of our fair city took to the streets of NE Portland Wednesday to participate in a 104 year old tradition.
Trail Blazers Ambassador Dale Schlueter and Blaze paid a special visit to the eighth grade class at Parkrose Middle School. They were there, along with Trail Blazers arena host Todd Bosma, to host the Trail Blazers first ever NBA FIT clinic, sponsored by Rebound Orthopedic and Neurosurgery.
The Portland Trail Blazers are the first major sports team to earn LEED Gold status for a major league sports facility, a milestone in the greening of sports, the team announced.
