The 2008 – 2009 Season was full of memories and highlights. But for the Trail Blazers, it was also a season of remembrance in honor of our beloved “00 Duck”, former Trail Blazer Kevin Duckworth, who passed away in the fall of 2008. His giving spirit and kind heart continues to inspire as the Trail Blazers do our part to Make It Better in the community.

Coach McMillan tipped off things by helping Cleveland High School and the Portland Interscholastic League raise funds with a scrimmage on one of 12 high school courts the Trail Blazers refurbished last season. In March, the Trail Blazers and Toyota partnered through Project Rebound, installing a Community Resource Room at Jefferson High School. Complete with computers and furniture, the room will serve as a gathering space for school and community-based organizations.

The Trail Blazers rolled out the red carpet in honor of the NBA’s Season of Giving by hosting a holiday-style meal for 5,000 of Portland’s most in-need citizens. The team also hosted parties for military families, youth served by Oregon Mentors, Make-A-Wish kids, Albina Head Start classrooms, St. Mary’s Home for Boys, the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber and children served by Children’s Cancer Association.

The Trail Blazers continued to encourage children to Make It Better on the court. Trail Blazers staff hosted six in-season hoops camps and more than ten clinics. In all, more than 3,000 kids attended camps and clinics this season.

Trail Blazer alumni continued to be a cornerstone of our efforts in the community. Fundraising efforts continue to build on the Kevin Duckworth Memorial Scholarship Fund established in his memory earlier this season. Trail Blazers Alumni Ambassadors Chris Dudley, Jerome Kersey, Dale Schlueter and Harry Glickman continue to Make It Better through their work with the team. Former Trail Blazers Bobby Gross and Terry Porter also stepped into the limelight in December with a double jersey retirement for #30.

In February, the team celebrated Black History Month by honoring leaders in the Black Community. February also brought the 8th Annual Heart of the Community Awards in partnership with Hands On Greater Portland, an event honoring a handful of Portland’s finest volunteers. This partnership has also led to the establishment of a unique feature on the Trail Blazers social networking site known as Iamatrailblazersfan.com. Thanks to Hands On, as the redesigned site is launched this spring, fans will find opportunities to join the team in our call to “Make It Better”.

For the Trail Blazers, March is Reading Month. Throughout the month, local students were awarded tickets and school assemblies from the Trail Blazers for achieving reading goals this school year.

As the season winds to a close, the team continues to raise funds for the newly established Make It Better fund. The organization will use the fund to build and support places for children and their families to “live, learn and play”. Fans should visit trailblazers.com/makeitbetter to bid on exclusive autographed items and experiences through our new online auctions.

Summer will bring more opportunities for Make It Better camps, clinics, Make It Better volunteer projects, Street Jam and much more. Thank you to everyone who joined the Trail Blazers in our very special challenge to Make It Better in our community.