The Portland Trail Blazers believe that life is more than a game, more than the numbers on a scoreboard. Through our time, talent and resources, we were able to dish over 110,000 community assists during the 2008-09 season. We remain enthusiastic in our commitment to Make It Better for children and families in Oregon and Southwest Washington and understand there is still work to do.

During the 2008-09 season, we began honoring local citizens who have taken the pledge to Make It Better. We invited these individuals and a guest to a game where we honored them in-arena. To find out how you can Make It Better, click here. To nominate a local individual for their outstanding community work, CLICK HERE.


1/31 – Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor, Steven Shane
Steven has done amazing work as a Big Brother to his “little” Davonte through the Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor Program. Steven’s mentee Davonte would tell you that his big is his best friend and among many other things has taught him to always do his best and work hard. Davonte’s mother would tell you what a great friend Steven has been to her son – from the surprise birthday party he organized, to the trip to Miami for Steven’s wedding, to the ability to make Davonte feel special and important.

During his tenure as the store manager of the Nike factory store, Steven established a school-based mentoring program at King Elementary in NE Portland with his own staff. The program has matched 15 children with Big Brothers Big Sisters.


3-1 – Trevor Fonvergne, Spelling Bee Champ
Trevor Fonvergne is an extraordinary 8th grader from Damascus Middle School. Last year, Trevor won the regional Spelling Bee and went to Washington, D.C. This year, Trevor won the Comcast Schoolhouse Supplies Celebrity Spelling Bee with tough competition from Storm Large. Trevor competed once again in the regional Spelling Bee this March.






3-26 – Grandma Cherry, 94-year-old reading mentor
Cherry Hendrix – known as “Grandma Cherry” is a wonder. For almost 25 years, she has served our community as a volunteer working with children. Three days a week, four hours a day “Grandma Cherry” helps students with their reading skills at NE Portland’s Woodlawn Elementary, one of the city’s most diverse schools. This is particularly impressive when you consider that she is 95 years old. Grandma Cherry tells us she has been reading all her life and it is one of her hobbies. She likes to work with children because she sees so many who need extra help in the classrooms and in their lives.





4-10 – Coach Heebeentall, 2009 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Coach of the Year Oregon & Washington
Coach Heebeentall, a pastor at Grace Pointe Church in Milwaukie, was named the 2009 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Coach of the Year in Oregon and Washington. Coach Heebeentall, who started coaching basketball 25 years ago when he coached his son’s third grade team, believes it is important to give back to the community and wants to help young people become responsible and contributing members of society. The players who played for Coach Heebeentall this year will play for his son next year on Rex Putnam High School’s Freshman Team.






4-15 – Delore McDaniel, Oregon’s Youth Coach of the Year
Delore McDaniel has been an active member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland for 11 years. She has been involved with Smart Girls, Triple Play and Keystone Club. Today, she is a teen leader and mentors younger club members. In the past year, Delore volunteered over 200 hours at the Boys & Girls Club, giving her time and energy to those who are most in need. Recently, Delore was named Oregon’s Youth Coach of the Year and this summer she will compete at the regional competition.






4-18 – Jasmine Holmes, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Trail Blazers Representative
Jasmine Holmes from the Tacoma Access Washington Warriors will represent the Trail Blazers at the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA skills challenge national finals May 14-17 in Orlando. Jasmine, whose winning time at the Trail Blazers Regional Championships in early March qualified her as one of two national finalists in her age group, loves playing all sports but especially basketball. She has not put the ball down since she was nine months old. Jasmine tired her first lay up when she was two.






4-21 – Eli Hirsch, teenager who founded Kidsrock4kids
Throughout the season, we will honor local citizens who have taken the pledge to Make It Better including Eli Hirsch, a 14-year-old musician/producer and middle school student at Pacific Crest Middle School. After seeing the Slumdog Millionaire movie, Eli was inspired to organize a concert to help kids around the world. He spent three months juggling homework and band rehearsals, lining up sponsors, doing TV and radio interviews, and selling tickets for Kidsrock4kids, a charity concert for Mercy Corps at the Crystal Ballroom where local youth bands played. The concert played to over 700 screaming fans and raised over $6,000 for Mercy Corps Worldwide Children’s Programs. Eli also hosts his own radio show called Youth Rock Radio, which allows youth bands to showcase their music to a worldwide audience.



4-28 – Tony Nitz, founder of Earthstock
Tony Nitz founded Earthstock 17 years ago at the request of a student with muscular dystrophy. Earthstock is a dance for special needs students that provide high school special needs students a safe and secure opportunity to celebrate and get together with friends from all over the city. Starting with 60 kids at the first dance, Earthstock has grown to over 600 participants, from all over Portland, Hillsboro, Sandy, Wilsonville, and Vancouver.