Bobcats & Sting Announce Partnership With YMCA Of Greater Charlotte

Emeka Okafor coached in a youth basketball game as part of his introductory press conference at the University City YMCA.

July 22, 2004 – The Charlotte Bobcats and Charlotte Sting will team with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte in an effort that will provide each organization with an opportunity to actively market, promote and intermingle with each other’s respected publics through community-oriented activities and programs, it was announced by President and Chief Operating Officer Ed Tapscott. Tapscott is also a member of the board for the YMCA of Greater Charlotte.

“The Bobcats and Sting are very excited to be partners with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte. The YMCA has long been a pillar in the Charlotte region and an institution for community involvement,” Tapscott said. “I have seen first-hand how the YMCA has been a stream of opportunity that has helped shape the future of so many young people, and we are proud to assist that effort.”

Serving the Charlotte Community since 1874, the YMCA has 13 branches in the Greater Charlotte area and is the largest non-profit community service organization in America with more than 2,500 YMCAs nation-wide. The organization works to meet the health and social service needs of 18.9 million people in 10,000 communities in the United States, without regard to faith, race, ability, age or social income.

“What a wonderful way to start a partnership – a $1 million donation to our West Boulevard YMCA and now this,” said Andy Calhoun, President and CEO of YMCA of Greater Charlotte. “We have seen first-hand evidence of Bob Johnson’s commitment to making a difference in Charlotte. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with our Charlotte Bobcats and Sting.”

In the new partnership, the Bobcats and Sting will provide the YMCA with a variety of activities that will include player appearances, in-arena marketing, game tickets, autographed merchandise, title sponsorships for select events and various other promotional and educational initiatives.

The YMCA will serve as a vehicle to promote the Bobcats and Sting with special membership drives and other ticket-based programs and incentives. In addition, the YMCA will be an active member of the Bobcats and Sting Youth Basketball Network, which promotes youth recreation basketball and builds character, sportsmanship, teamwork, discipline, self-esteem, goal setting and individual performance excellence.

The Bobcats and Sting organizations have already worked together in numerous ways to benefit the YMCA. Upon his arrival in Charlotte, majority owner Robert L. Johnson donated $1 million toward the construction of a new YMCA on West Boulevard. The Bobcats and Sting purchased uniforms for the youth basketball programs at four local YMCA branches – Johnston, McCrorey, Simmons and West Boulevard – and also sponsored the YMCA-hosted Martin Luther King Day Breakfast. In addition, Bobcats Vice President of Community Relations LaRita Barber is on the Board of Directors of the University City YMCA.

The Bobcats also held the press conference to announce General Manager & Head Coach Bernie Bickerstaff and a youth clinic at the McCrorey YMCA, and the University City YMCA hosted the press conference to introduce rookie Emeka Okafor, followed by youth basketball games coached by the Bobcats’ first-ever draft pick. The Sting partnered with Home Depot and Dell to build a reading and learning center at the McCrorey YMCA.