Bucks Announce "Hoops for the Heroes" Events

* Free Open Practice - Saturday, October 6
* Pre-Season Game vs. Denver - Monday, October 15

The Milwaukee Bucks will encourage fans to get ready for the 2001-2002 season by attending two "Hoops for the Heroes" events at the Bradley Center. The events will benefit the United Way of Greater Milwaukee's initiative to help "The September 11th Fund." Both events are presented by Today's TMJ-4 television and Newsradio 620 WTMJ.

"The September 11th Fund" has been established to provide immediate support to emergency assistance agencies, such as the American Red Cross. Additionally, funds will also be used to bring together the resources of other non-profit health and human services agencies in New York City, Washington, D.C., and other cities affected by the tragedy. All donations made through the United Way of Greater Milwaukee will be forwarded directly to the United Way of New York City for distribution to appropriate agencies.

On Saturday, October 6 at noon, Bucks Head Coach George Karl will conduct an open practice session on the Bradley Center floor. Admission will be free to the first 18,000 fans attending. Free tickets are available at the Bucks Bradley Center office, WTMJ Studios at 720 East Capitol Drive, and at the door on Saturday. Bradley Center doors open at 11:30 am. Fans will be encouraged to make voluntary cash donations to the United Way September 11th Fund as they enter the event.

The practice, part of the training camp schedule, will feature the entire Bucks team, as well as entertainment by Streetlife with Warren Wiegratz, the Energee! Dance team, and Bango, the team mascot. Games and activities will be offered on the Bradley Center concourse to generate additional September 11th Fund revenues.

A special commemorative T-shirt will also be sold, with all proceeds going to the September 11th fund. A silent auction of Bucks memorabilia, including a Ray Allen autographed jersey, will also be conducted during the practice.

The Bucks organization will match dollar-for-dollar every contribution made by individual fans at the event to the September 11 fund.

The "Hoops for the Heroes" Open Practice will follow the 10:00 am Saturday start of 2001-2002 Bucks individual game ticket sales at The Bradley Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com and by phone at 1-800-4NBA-TIX. Tickets for all 41 Bucks home games become available for individual purchase on Saturday morning and continue throughout the day.

The second "Hoops for the Heroes" event will occur on Monday, October 15 at 7 pm at the Bradley Center when the Bucks host the Denver Nuggets. It is the first of two home preseason games, with the 25th Annual MACC Fund Game vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves following on Saturday, October 20 at 7:30 pm.

All of the activities and events of the Open Practice will be repeated on October 15 at the Denver game, with all individual fan contributions made at the game to the September 11th Fund again matched by the Bucks organization.

Tickets for the Denver game on October 15 are on sale at the Bradley Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 1-800-4NBA-TIX and on-line at www.ticketmaster.com.

The United Way of Greater Milwaukee has joined with Today's TMJ-4 to raise donations for the September 11th Fund since the tragedies in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania occurred. Locally, over $1,250,000 has been donated by citizens to the Fund through efforts of United Way and Today's TMJ-4. All funds raised will be sent directly to New York to be distributed to victims and their families by United Way organizations such as The American Red Cross and Salvation Army.