The Bobcats and Maggiano’s teamed up with local charities including A Child’s Place, Fifth Street Shelter Ministries and Thompson Children’s Home to provide a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings to participants. Bobcats President Ed Tapscott, Assistant Coach John-Blair Bickerstaff, players Jason Kapono, Brevin Knight (pictured right) and Bernard Robinson and staff members were on hand to serve the meal and interact with families.

“As a family-oriented restaurant, Maggiano’s is thrilled to partner with the Bobcats to do something special for needy families during the holidays,” says Ralph Ruocco, general manager, who hopes to make this an annual event for local charities.

A Child’s Place provides education and support services for homeless children, while Fifth Street Shelter Ministries operates homeless and battered women’s shelters. Thompson Children's Home, a former orphanage, is a residential treatment facility with various programs to help children with behavioral and emotional difficulties.

After serving dinner, Brevin Knight read holiday stories to the children as part of the team’s Read to Achieve program, which is designed to help young people develop a life-long love for reading and encourage adults to read regularly with children.

“We are so thankful for the support the Charlotte community continues to show the Bobcats organization,” says LaRita Barber, vice president of community relations for the Bobcats. “The Hoops and Hope Dinner is our way of giving back this holiday season.”

Hoops and Hope participants also received goodie bags filled with Bobcats t-shirts, pencils and other donated items.