Grizzlies help fund Le Bonheur efforts in Haiti

MEMPHIS, January 26, 2010— The Memphis Grizzlies players, coaches and ownership announced today that they will be donating $50,000 to help fund Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center’s team of physicians and medical personnel who will be traveling to Haiti to address the immediate and critical care needs of Haitian children who have been affected by the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks that have hit the region.

A strong partner of the Grizzlies in the Memphis community, Le Bonheur Children's has assembled a team to send to the Haiti region that includes orthopedic and general surgeons, a critical care physician, an anesthesiologist, a registered nurse anesthetist, a general care nurse and several other select support personnel.

The Grizzlies are committed to supporting the NBA’s league-wide initiatives to support its longtime community partner, and have also helped to lead the effort to bring awareness to the crisis in Haiti to the city of Memphis. During Grizzlies contests the team will run in-game video features and live reads on television and radio broadcasts on FOX Sports Tennessee, SportSouth and WRBO 103.5 FM that encourage donations to aid UNICEF’s recovery and relief effort.

“Led by our head coach, Lionel Hollins, the Grizzlies wanted to collectively do our part to help aid to the relief efforts in Haiti,” said Grizzlies team captain Zach Randolph. “We hope that this contribution helps in the people who are suffering from this tragic event.”

By partnering with Le Bonheur, the Grizzlies are furthering their commitment to show generosity and demonstrate leadership in bringing awareness to the crisis in Haiti to the city of Memphis. Since the first devastating earthquake hit the region on Jan. 12, the Grizzlies have run in-game video features and live reads on television and radio broadcasts on FOX Sports Tennessee, SportSouth and WRBO 103.5 FM that encourage people to aid in the relief efforts.

Founded in 1952, Le Bonheur Children’s is a national leader in pediatric clinical care and research, and is the region’s premier teaching hospital for future pediatricians, pediatric surgical specialists and clinicians. The Grizzlies have been partners with Le Bonheur since the team moved to Memphis.

For more information on how to donate to the relief effort in Haiti visit lebonheur.org or, make a donation online at unicefusa.org/haitiquake or call 1-800-4UNICEF.