Bulls in the Community: Developing a Presence

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Bob Love appearance information

Through a variety of community outreach programs, we aspire to lift the spirits and burdens of our neighbors by extending helping hands, no matter how big or small the task may be.

Chicago Bulls “Go Green” Program
In an effort to be more environmentally conscious, we have launched a team-wide effort to improve the environmental performance of the organization. The “Go Green” initiative addresses environmental conservation policies within our offices as well as promotes and educates our fans with ways they can help including an in-arena “Go Green” night and community initiatives to promote recycling and energy conservation.

The Bulls concentrate on the needs of the hungry in our own community by hosting two food drives at home games.

To tip-off the “Go Green” program, players teamed up with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County to host a clean up event at the Schiller Woods Forest Preserve located on West Irving Park Road in Chicago. We have also administered cleanup events at the James Jordan Boys & Girls Club and Chicago Bulls Family Life Center located by the United Center.

In April 2009, the organization also hosted an in-arena “Go Green” night at to create awareness and educate fans on ways to protect the environment.

Chicago Gateway Green
Since 2001, we have participated in an “Expressway Partnership” with Chicago Gateway Green, a non-profit organization dedicated to the beautification of the Chicagoland area. The goal of the program is to help transform expressways into parkways by removing litter and graffiti, managing the landscape and installing public art on area expressways. Our pledge of more than $85,000 has helped maintain a section of the Kennedy Expressway near the United Center, marked by a sign at the Milwaukee Avenue exit ramp.

North Chicago Project
In the fall of 2002, we partnered with Illinois Congressman Mark Kirk to answer the call of the North Chicago community. After losing two of their young men to teen violence, the northeastern Illinois neighborhood was desperately in search of after-school and athletic programs. To assist them in developing a safe environment for youth basketball leagues and tournaments, we donated $100,000 and the design to renovate two of the Park District’s deteriorated outdoor basketball courts. The resurfaced courts were created in the likeness of our home court at the United Center and provide safety with outdoor lighting, bleacher seating and newly-installed fencing. The courts were officially opened in April 2003, and host children of all ages for recreational play, as well as numerous tournaments and leagues.

In-Arena Food Drives
Twice a year, we concentrate on the needs of the hungry in our own community by hosting food drives with Midway Moving and Storage at our home games. Each December, we designate one game to collect food donations from employees and fans for holiday meals. Nearly two tons of non-perishable items are collected each year and distributed to Chicago-area food kitchens and shelters through the Greater Chicago Food Depository. In March, we coordinate a non-holiday food drive with the Food Depository to keep their food closets filled year round.

Donations
We receive countless requests from non-profit organizations, schools, hospitals and churches for items to assist in fundraising efforts and provide student incentives. By donating autographed sports items and tickets, we help local charity groups raise over $150,000 each year. On top of that, we make numerous donations of merchandise and souvenirs on a daily basis. These in-kind donations provide teachers, sports groups, after-school programs and other community organizations with incentives and prizes to assist with their daily efforts.

Bob Love, the Bulls' Dir. of Community Affairs, is available free of charge for speaking engagements throughout the year.

Bob Love
Since 1992, former Bull and three-time NBA All-Star Bob Love has served as our Director of Community Affairs. Once severely hindered by a significant stuttering problem, Bob travels the Chicagoland area and country to attend more than 200 events annually on behalf of the organization. As a motivational speaker, Bob shares his story of fear and humiliation that lasted from his childhood through his NBA career because of his inability to communicate verbally with others.

Along with lessons from his own personal experience, Bob assists in promoting the values of reading and education as part of our Read To Achieve program. He is available free-of-charge for appearances, speaking engagements and special events.

Recently, Bob released a documentary about his life titled, “Find Yourself a Dream: The Bob Love Story.” Bob also embarked on a nationwide speaking tour to promote the film that documents his struggles to overcome diversity to make his dreams come true.

Bob Love official appearance request form

Team Mates
Team Mates is our philanthropic women’s organization made up of wives and family members of our front office employees, players, coaches and broadcasters along with female employees. During the season, Team Mates organizes fundraisers to generate financial support for a variety of causes to which they lend support.

Other organizations benefiting from Team Mates include Shelter, Inc., The Cara Program, Nueva Esperanza Urban Youth Mission, Girls in the Game, Go Girl Go! and Children’s Memorial Hospital.

Special Holiday Events
During the months of November and December, the spirit of giving receives our undivided attention.

To spread cheer to as many as possible, we schedule numerous events during the course of the holidays. Examples include players and employees serving dinner at local homeless shelters and financing shopping sprees for children who otherwise would not receive holiday gifts.

In December 2008, we assisted the Chicago Housing Authority with its annual Kids’ Holiday Party held this year at the Shedd Aquarium. Luol Deng provided gifts for the more than 500 children in attendance.

We also partnered with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to host a holiday party for local families. Additionally, the entire team hosted a holiday party with children from CHA housing facilities and the USO who had loved ones serving overseas during the holidays at the Bulls practice facility, the Berto Center. The players distributed gifts to all the children and helped decorate Christmas trees which were later donated to CHA senior facilities throughout Chicago.

Wish-Granting Organizations
Make-A-Wish and Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer foundations are well-known for their efforts to make the dreams of critically ill children come true. When the wish of an ill child is to meet one of our players or attend a game, our dream comes true. Several times a year, we are thrilled to open our home to these special guests and share an evening with them.

PSAs
As professional athletes, our players and select members of our management team receive the opportunity to serve as spokespersons for a variety of causes. With their celebrity notoriety, they possess the ability to deliver important messages with impact. We utilize that asset by providing a number of PSAs both for television and radio to drive messages of public importance or to the help other non-profit organizations gain public support.