Community Archives

photo by Scott Cunningham
Horford Wins NBA Community Award
In recognition of Al Horford's outstanding efforts in the community and
for his ongoing philanthropic work, the NBA has honored the Atlanta
Hawks' big man with the Community Assist Award for February.
Horford's impact on the court has him leading all rookies in rebounding
and helping the Hawks' late playoff push. Off the court, the Dominican
Republic native has shown the same dedication, supporting Atlanta-area
Hispanic youth groups including the STAR House and La Amistad, where he
conducted reading timeouts and donated tickets to Hawks games. In
addition, he supports other youth groups through his own initiative,
Al's Amigos.
"Growing up, I realized that some people are less fortunate than
others,"said Horford. "Now that I am an NBA player and in a position to
help, I have the opportunity and responsibility to make a difference."
The former University of Florida star also recently met with the Salt
Lake Valley Gator Club before a Hawks game against the Utah Jazz at
Energy Solutions Arena. Horford signed autographs and took pictures with
the club, supporting their effort to raise money for the Florida
Opportunity Scholarship Fund, which gives a full scholarship to a
low-income student who will be the first in his or her family to attend
college.
During NBA All-Star 2008 in New Orleans, Horford hosted a basketball
clinic with the children from Laurel Elementary School, where he also
participated in the dedication of a new mural for the students as well
as the renovation of an outdoor basketball court. In addition, Horford
visited a group of children from the Make-A-Wish Foundation; competed in
the Annual Zo & Magic's 8-Ball Challenge, which has raised over $750,000
in the past four years for youth endeavors; and participated in the NBA
Cares All-Star Day of Service before competing in the T-Mobile Rookie
Challenge and Youth Jam.
Horford will receive the David Robinson Plaque, with the inscription,
"Following the standard set by NBA Legend David Robinson who improved
the community piece by piece." In addition to the plaque, a $5,000
donation will be given to the STAR House on Horford's behalf.
The league presents the NBA Community Assist Award monthly to recognize
players for their charitable efforts. The award honors the NBA player
who reflects the passion that the league and its players have for giving
back to their communities.


Hawks Visit John Hope Elementary
John Hope Elementary got quite a surprise in March when the
entire Atlanta Hawks Roster showed up to their school for Team Reading Day, part
of the Read to Achieve Program presented by Philips and Sprite. As the children
waited for an assembly to start with no answer of what kind of assembly it was,
Coach came out and started announcing each Atlanta Hawk. Josh Childress
announced to all of the students that not only were the Hawks giving their
school 2000 books for their media center, thanks to The Reading Tree, but each
of the children were getting their very own books to take home as well. After
the clapping and cheering settled down, each player went to a different
classroom and read to the children, signed autographs and talked about the
importance of school. Team Reading is sure to be remembered and talked about by
the children for a very long time to come. (photos by Jennifer Boxely)


Stoudamire and Jones Visit Nickajack
Atlanta Hawks players Salim Stoudamire and Solomon Jones hosted a Reading Timeout for students at Nickajack Elementary School (in Smyrna) on Thursday, April 3. Stoudamire and Jones read a selection of books to students before signing autographs and posing for pictures. The event is part of the Read to Achieve program presented by Philips and Sprite.

Hawks Help Open Playroom At Children's
Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston
The Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers helped make the world brighter for some
special children thanks to the support of The Home Depot. The Hawks and
Thrashers unveiled two state-of-the-art, team-specific playrooms at Children's
Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, on April 17th. The rooms were sponsored by
The Home Depot and designed by Idea-Span.
Hawks play-by-play announcer emceed the event and lent a helping hand for a
special board cutting along with Charlie Criss (former Hawks guard), LaVerne
Henderson (Vice President of Community Development), Thrashers forward Chris
Thorburn, Kamal (Thrashers Radio Play-by-Play Announcer), John Chiasson
(District Manager for The Home Depot) and Martha McGill (Sr. Vice President of
Operations for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston). Adding to the
day's festivities were members of the Hawks A-Town Dancers and Thrashers Blue
Crew along with mascots Harry the Hawk and Thrash.
Participants later entertained children in the playrooms and made special
room-to-room visits passing out teddy bears, stickers and autograph cards.
Click here for photo gallery.

Hawks Present Collier Memorial Trophy
Before a sellout crowd at Philips Arena on Saturday, April 12th, the Hawks
presented the Jason Collier Memorial Trophy to Marvin Williams. The award, named
after the late center who passed away in October 2005, is presented annually to
the individual who best exemplifies the characteristics Collier displayed off
the court as a community ambassador. Marvin gave tirelessly to the community
this season, including joining the Honorary Board of Special Olympics Georgia,
hosting his second annual holiday event for underprivileged kids with teammate
Josh Childress, participating in reading timeouts at local elementary schools
and much more. Pictured with Williams are Hawks Executive Vice President and
General Manager Billy Knight and Jason's widow, Katie Collier.
World Malaria Day - April 25
Get in the game and join your Atlanta Hawks in helping to prevent
malaria in Africa. NBA Cares
and Nothing But Nets need your help to deliver
life-saving bed nets to families in Africa. A ten-dollar donation to
Nothing But Nets will provide a bed net to protect children and their
families from the disease.
April 25, 2008 marks the first World Malaria Day. Malaria, a disease
transmitted by mosquitoes, infects more than 500 million people a year
and kills more than a million - one child dies every 30 seconds. With
your support, the insecticide-laden bed nets will protect children and
families from mosquitoes and prevent them from flying on to their next
victim.
Send a net. Save a life.
What You Can Do
Learn More:
NBA Cares, a founding partner of the Nothing But Nets campaign, has raised more than $18 million to provide life-saving bed nets to those in need. NBA Cares is the league's social responsibility program that builds on the NBA's long tradition of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world.
Mario's Second Pizza Party
Atlanta Hawks rookie Mario West hosted a pizza party for patients at Children's
Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston on March 20. It was the second time this year
the Hawks guard spent the afternoon eating and visiting with patients, passing
out books, playing games and more (having also visited on February 7 with fellow
rookie Acie Law IV). West, a Douglasville native and Georgia Tech alum, has a
longstanding relationship with the hospital and has visited with patients since
his college days.


Dr. Seuss's Birthday and Read Across America Day
FSN South and Atlanta Hawks play-by-play man Bob Rathbun visited Harmony
Elementary in Buford on March 3 to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday and Read
Across America with the students. He read "Green Eggs and Ham" before talking to
the kids about the importance of reading in his line of work and encouraging
them to read outside of school. The event was held in conjunction with the Read
to Achieve Program presented by Philips and Sprite.
Tucker High School Visit
A group of students from Tucker High School visited Philips Arena on
February 28 for a unique day with the Hawks and Thrashers. The students
were writing a Dr. Seuss-style book about different sports seasons for
the special needs class at their sister elementary school. They started
off the day watching the Atlanta Thrashers get ready for that evening's
game at the morning skate, followed by being guests at the Hawks
practice that afternoon. Coach Woods shared Gatorade with the kids
before gathering the players for photos and autographs.

Al and the Gators
Hawks rookie and former University of Florida star Al Horford met with the Salt
Lake Valley Gator Club before the Hawks - Jazz game on February 23 at
EnergySolutions Arena. Horford signed autographs and took pictures with the
club, supporting its effort to raise money for the Florida Opportunity
Scholarship Fund, which gives a full scholarship to a low-income student who
will be the first in his or her family to attend college.
Why is Reading Important to You?
Hawks alumni, Jim Washington and Charlie Criss, made an appearance at the
Atlanta Speech School on February 21 on behalf of the Read to Achieve Program,
sponsored by Philips and Sprite. Both former Hawks spoke to students about the
value of an education and stressed the importance of reading in everyday life. (photos by Alison Church)
Law and West Visit Children's Healthcare
Atlanta Hawks rookies Mario West and Acie Law hosted a pizza party
for patients at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston on February 7. The
two Hawks spent the afternoon eating and visiting with patients, passing out
gift bags, playing games and more. West, a Douglasville native and Georgia Tech
alum, has a longstanding relationship with the hospital and has visited with
patients since his college days.. (photos by Susyn Ahern)

Al Horford Visits Mimosa Elementary School
ATLANTA, GA -- Atlanta Hawks rookie Al Horford hosted a special
English/Spanish Reading Timeout for children from STAR House on March 3. The
event, part of the Read to Achieve program (presented by Philips and Sprite),
took place at Mimosa Elementary School in Roswell. Horford, originally from the
Dominican Republic, read a selection of books in English and Spanish before
signing autographs and posing for pictures. STAR House is an after-school
Hispanic learning group that meets at Mimosa Elementary. Teachers and volunteers
help children learn English, while also assisting with homework and
socialization skills. (photos by Alison Church)


Josh Childress Visits Mt. Olive Elementary School
ATLANTA,
GA ---- Hawks guard Josh Childress joined fifth-grader Kayla Billings for a
special day at Mt. Olive Elementary School in East Point on February 28.
Billings won the visit and an ice cream party with Childress as the Grand Prize
Winner of the "How I Can Improve My Community Essay Contest With J-Chill."
Billings' essay, which she read to her class, was selected from nearly 100
entries as the winner. Submissions were judged on creativity, grammar, content
and overall impression. She also won a Hawks prize pack, including four tickets
to the Hawks - Magic game at Philips Arena on March 22. The contest was held as
part of the Read to Achieve program sponsored by Philips and Sprite, and Carvel
donated the ice cream for the party. (photo by Jennifer Boxley).
Hawks Host Jr. NBA All-Star
Lithonia's Larenz Griggs is one of five boys and five girls selected
to represent the more than 830,000 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA members as the 2007-08 Jr.
NBA/Jr. WNBA National Team. The group will be honored guests at the 57th NBA
All-Star Game in New Orleans. The showcase event for the National Team will take
place on 2/17, when the squad takes on a team of New Orleans Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA
All-Stars on Center Court of NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by Adidas at the
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The Hawks recognized Larenz and his family
in a ceremony prior to the Pistons game on 2/12 and Hawks Guard Mario West
presented him with his award. Larenz has been a part of the Atlanta Hawks
Saturday clinics this season and plays out of the Dekalb King James Shooting
Stars program.
Marvin Meets With Special Olympic Athletes
Marvin Williams, Special Olympics Georgia Honorary Board Member, met with a
group of Special Olympic Athletes on January 13th after the game against the
Bulls. He signed autographs, took pictures and spoke with the athletes from the
Kay Center, located in Fort Valley, GA. The Kay Center is a Sheltered Workshop
for Adults with Developmental Disabilities. Marvin offered words of
encouragement and heard encouraging stories in return from the athletes.
Chill Participates In Celebrity Wheelchair B'Ball
Jam
Atlanta Hawks guard Josh Childress participated (as one of the head
coaches) in Dream Maker's Youth Foundation's Celebrity Wheelchair
Basketball Jam on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at Campbell Middle School
in Smyrna. The event featured celebrities playing ball in loaner chairs
with and against wheelchair athletes. Other festivities included music,
children's games, giveaways, and live performances by Lil De', Royale
Fam and the Atlanta Hawks A-Town dancers.



JJ's Santa-Lanta
On Tuesday, December 18, Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson hosted the third "JJ's
Santa-Lanta for Kids" holiday event for approximately 100 teenagers from the
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. Johnson, an alumni of the William E.
Thrasher Boys & Girls Club (in Little Rock, Arkansas) treated the kids to
dinner, bowling and holiday gifts. The event was part of Johnson's continued
support of the Boys & Girls Clubs, which included a $5,000 donation earlier this
year. (photo by Susyn Ahern)



Marv & Chils Flicks and Kicks
Atlanta Hawks forward Marvin Williams and guard Josh Childress hosted the second
"Marv & Chill's Holiday Flicks & Kicks" event on Sunday, December 16 for
disadvantaged children from MUST, Traveler's Aid of Metro Atlanta, YWCA and The
Center for Family Resources. The kids joined the two Hawks at the AMC Parkway
Pointe 15 for a special screening of the feature film Bee Movie followed by
dinner at Don Pablo's Restaurant. Maggie Moo's Ice Cream Treatery donated
desserts for everyone in attendance. Each child received a number of gifts,
including NIKE or Reebok shoes and additional Hawks items. (photos by Susan
Ahern)



Larry Drew, Zaza Pachulia and Anthony Johnson visit patients at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. (photo by Alison Church)

Hawks center Lorenzen Wright and guard Salim Stoudamire make a new fan at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. (photo by Susyn Ahern)
Hawks Visit Children At Area Hospitals
Continuing with the organization's traditional philanthropic endeavors
during this season of giving, the Atlanta Hawks visited patients at two
local hospitals on December 12. Players, coaches, front office staff,
and mascots split into two groups and spread a little holiday cheer at
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite and Children's
Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston by visiting with patients and
families, distributing gifts, playing Bingo and signing autographs.
Former Hawks guard Charlie Criss hosted a Reading Timeout, as part of the Read to Achieve program (presented by Philips and Sprite), at Minor Elementary School on 11/13 at 10:30 am.
Marvin Williams Scoops For Charity
Marvin Williams was in attendance at Maggie Moo's Ice Cream Treatery for
"Celebrity Scoop Night" on Saturday, November 10. The event benefited the
Atlanta chapter of the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, an
organization committed to helping seriously-ill children and their families cope
with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family
activities.
The Atlanta chapter of the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation received
15 percent of the proceeds from the entire day.

Josh Smith presents a check to the Jobs For Georgia Graduates program
Josh Smith Makes Donation To Jobs For Georgia
Graduates
On September 28, Hawks forward Josh Smith presented students from the
Jobs for Georgia Graduates program at Benjamin E. Mays High School (in
Atlanta) with a check for $7,000 which will be used to send some of the
kids to the Jobs for America's Graduates National Student Leadership
Conference (NSLC) in Washington DC.

Hawks F Al Horford clowns around with kids at the Hawks Thanksgiving event (photo by Jennifer Boxely)
Hawks Host Kids For Thanksgiving Event
The Hawks recently hosted Thanksgiving dinner for young men from Turning
Point and Potter's House shelter, giving some deserving youth a
once-in-a-lifetime experience. The players and coaches dished up a
special Thanksgiving meal with all of the trimmings, which was
generously donated by Hudson Grille in Brookhaven Station. The players
later dined with the youth and discussed the many things they had to be
thankful for this holiday season. They also shared lots of laughs and
smiles that were captured on camera and guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Photo
Gallery
Watch The Highlights!

Hawks F Joe Johnson poses with one of the clinic participants (photo by Jennifer Boxely)
Hawks Host Clinic For Special Olympics Georgia
The Atlanta Hawks hosted dozens of Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA)
athletes for a basketball skills clinic on Friday, October 26. The
event, which took place on the Hawks practice court, featured individual
instruction and drills from the entire Hawks team to some deserving
athletes. The athletes also received gift bags with signed Hawks
memorabilia and took a team photo with their NBA idols.
Photo
Gallery

Hawks G Tyronn Lue and a young Hawks fan (photo by Jennifer Boxely)
Hawks Paint The Town At The New World Of Coke
To help kick-off the NBA season, the Atlanta Hawks held their Paint the
Town event on Saturday, October 20th at the New World of Coca-Cola. The
entire roster of Hawks players were on-hand to participate in a number
of the festivities, including manning the Tasting Stations, taking tours
with kids, helping customers check-out at the Coca-Cola Store, playing
hoops on the Sport Court, as well as signing autographs and posing for
pictures. Hawks fans also participated in a number of Hawks interactive
elements such as the giant slide, pop-a-shot and prize wheel.
Photo
Gallery

Former Hawks players Charlie Criss (right) and Jim Washington (left) helped launch Team Spirit, a new Atlanta Spirit employee volunteer program, with a kick-off event at The Ron Clark Academy. Here the former Hawks are pictured with the famed educator after which the school is named. (Photo credit: Jennifer Boxley)
Atlanta Spirit, parent company of the Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Thrashers and Philips Arena launched Team Spirit, a new company-wide employee volunteer program, with a kick-off event at The Ron Clark Academy on Wednesday, August 29.
"We are honored to lend our Atlanta Spirit human capital, as well as team and arena resources, to help bring this amazing facility to life," said Atlanta Spirit President and CEO Bernie Mullin. "Ron Clark's teaching methods are producing wonderful results among inner-city youth, and we proudly support the Academy's efforts to connect with each student as a means of opening up more young minds and increasing a child's capacity to learn."
Activities included a community clean-up and writing welcome notes for students. Atlanta Spirit employees participated along with former Hawks players Charlie Criss and Jim Washington and Thrashers players Johan Hedberg and Steve McCarthy.
Clark, an Atlanta Hawks season ticket holder, was named Disney's American Teacher of the Year in 2000. Recently, he was portrayed by Matthew Perry in TNT's original movie, The Ron Clark Story. Visit www.ronclarkacademy.com to learn more about the school that is revolutionizing education.

Hawks Play-by-play TV announcer Bob Rathbun takes a ride down the slide.

All in a day's work

Hawks alum
Charlie
Criss with a
CHOA
participant.
Hawks Help Out at 8th Annual Summer Rehab Games
On Monday July 16, Philips Arena hosted for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta rehab patients at their 8th Annual Rehab Summer Games. The Atlanta Hawks and Thrashers Community Development team joined over 350 children competing in events like basketball, tricycle races, wheelbarrow races, dance contests, an obstacle course, and many more. Hawks alumnus Charlie Criss joined in the fun and gave tips on basketball.

Newby goes
to Camp!
On June
19th, former
Atlanta
Hawks center
Ivano
Newbill
joined area
children for
summer camp
at the
Atlanta
History
Center. The
kids spent
the day
learning how
games have
played an
important
role in
Georgia
history -
from
competitions
held by the
earliest
Native
Americans,
to the
present with
professional
franchises
like the
Atlanta
Hawks.
Newbill read
to the
children
about how
basketball
started and
then related
his
experiences
of today. He
then
answered
questions,
signed
autographs,
and passed
out Read to
Achieve
stickers and
bookmarks
from Philips
and Sprite.

The People
in your
Neighborhood
The
Children's
Museum,
Imagine It!
conducted
its third
and final
week of
summer camp
on June 27th
with a
Sesame
Street
influenced
theme of
"Who are the
People in
your
Neighborhood."
WSB-TV
anchor
Jovita Moore
made a
special
appearance
to read a
story
featuring
Sesame
Street's
Elmo to the
campers on
behalf of
Read to
Achieve
(presented
by Philips
and Sprite).
She then
answered
questions
and
discussed
elements of
her career,
including
how she
works with
the Atlanta
Hawks.

(Left to right) Thrashers broadcaster Darren Elliot, AVP Tour Pros Mark Williams and Casey Jennings, Hawks scout Harold Ellis
On June 7th at Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta, Hawks scout Harold Ellis teamed with Atlanta Thrashers broadcaster Darren Elliot for a charity two-on-two volleyball match against professionals Casey Jennings and Mark Williams. It was pretty fun for all involved, and Ellis and Elliot (Team E) received oversized novelty checks for $2,500 towards the Hawks and Thrashers Foundations for their efforts.
Team E hung tough, but eventually the skills of the pros won out in a 21-10 win. We still applaud the effort fellas, especially Ellis, who was wearing all black despite the 90-degree heat.

Atlanta Hawks Team Reading Day
Atlanta Hawks players and coaches joined students at Woodson Elementary School
in Atlanta for a special Read to Achieve event on March 8. The Hawks took part
in a school assembly, and visited a number of classrooms to read a variety of
books and discuss the importance of literacy with the children. The event was
held as part of the Read to Achieve program presented by Philips and Sprite.

A Trip to the Highlight Factory
The Russian "White Bears" from Moscow were in Atlanta for a youth hockey
tournament being hosted by Hockey Director Yan Kaminsky at the Thrashers
Practice Facility in Duluth. It wasn't all work and no play; the team stopped by
a couple Thrasher games and a Hawks game on April 6th where they met Slava
Medvedenko. He spoke to the kids, signed autographs and posed for pictures
before the start of the game.

Marvin Williams hosted a special meet & greet on April 13th for children from Celine's Place and a couple big basketball fans - Merissa Williams and Ashley Bridges, who are in town for rehab at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. The kids were brought to the court prior to the Hawks - Wizards game where Marvin talked with them, signed autographs and posed for pictures. Then each of the kids was treated to VIP seats in Marvin's MVPs section for the rest of the night. Marvin has teamed up with the Atlanta Hawks and Choice Point to bring children Hawks games throughout the season.

Josh Childress Visits Essay Contest Winner
The Atlanta Hawks' Josh Childress joined fifth-grader Richard Guyton Jr. for a
special day at Locust Grove Elementary School on March 22. Childress picked-up
Guyton Jr. for a limousine ride to the school, and appeared with him during the
morning video announcements, before spending some time with the fifth-grader's
class.
Guyton Jr. was recently selected as the Grand Prize Winner of the "Take Chill to
School" Essay Contest. Atlanta area elementary school students submitted essays
on "Why you should take Josh Childress to school" from November 15 - January 3.
Guyton Jr.'s essay, which he read at school on Thursday morning, was selected
from nearly 100 entries as the winner. Submissions were judged on creativity,
grammar, content and overall impression. He also received four tickets to a
Hawks home game at Philips Arena and other prizes. The contest was held in
conjunction with the Hawks' Read to Achieve program presented by Philips and
Sprite.


Josh Smith Visits Kennesaw Elementary
Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith took part in a special Read to
Achieve/Scholastic Book Fair awards ceremony and book signing at Kennesaw
Elementary School on Tuesday, March 20.
Smith's appearance coincided with Scholastic's release of NBA Reader: High
Flying Stars, which features the Hawks forward, among other NBA stars like
Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. The book is one of three new NBA-licensed
children's books designed to help struggling readers.
This season, NBA Cares (the league's social responsibility initiative) and
Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media company,
teamed up to recognize hundreds of students nationwide who are reading to
achieve. As part of the program, elementary schools around the country
challenged their students to read as many books as they could. To reward the
high-scoring students, NBA players will honor winners at Scholastic Book Fairs
by presenting awards to children who have read enough books to earn "Rookie
Reader" and "All-Star" status. Outstanding students in each school will receive
the highest honor of "MVP".
Additionally, Scholastic is donating $10,000 worth of books to Boys Who D.A.R.E.
as part of their partnership with the Atlanta Hawks. Smith's participation in
the event is part of the Read to Achieve program (presented by Philips and
Sprite).

Read to Achieve Night
The Atlanta Hawks celebrated Read to Achieve Night (presented by Philips and
Sprite) on March 3 at Philips Arena. Fans were treated to a number of promotions
throughout the evening, including the first 5,000 people through the Philips
Arena doors receiving a customized copy of Hawk Dreams, courtesy of Philips and
Sprite. Children of all ages created their own Read to Achieve bookmarks and
book covers at the Kids Table (in the Philips Experience). Additionally, members
of the A-Town Dancers hosted a Reading Timeout for kids, also in the Philips
Experience.
Just before tip-off, the Hawks recognized the winner of the "Take Chill to
School" essay contest, fifth-grader Richard Guyton, Jr. from Locust Grove
Elementary School, as well as the five runners-up, Ellery Payne, Jordan Thomas
Sterling, Joshua Sims, Danielle Usher-Niemi and Brenton Bridges, in an on-court
presentation.

Zaza Pachulia Meets With Georgian Businessmen
Prior to the Atlanta Hawks - Toronto Raptors game (Feb. 2), Hawks
center Zaza Pachulia meets, in the state of Georgia (USA), with representatives
of the Caucasus Business School from his hometown, Tblisi, in the country of
Georgia. The Caucasus Business School partners with Georgia State University's
J. Mack Robinson College of Business to provide undergraduate and graduate
business programs in Tblisi. Left to right in the photo are George
Simongulashvili, vice president of Caucasus University; Bijan Fazlollahi,
director of the Center for Business Development in Transitional Economies at
Georgia State University in Atlanta; Zaza Pachulia, center, Atlanta Hawks; Kakha
Shengelia, president of Caucasus University and H. Fewick Huss, dean of the J.
Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University.



Atlanta Hawks center Esteban Batista hosted a Basketball & Books Clinic with approximately 25 children from La Amistad on February 1 on the Hawks Practice Court. Batista read to the children, before conducting a basketball clinic and signing autographs. The event was part of the Read to Achieve program presented by Philips and Sprite.
Chill's Meet and Greets
Josh Childress and EarthLink have teamed up to donate 300 tickets to
metro Atlanta charitable organizations this season. As part of the
program, kids will be seated in Childress' "Fro Zone" section, receive
"J. Chill" Spirit Signs and have the opportunity to take pictures and
get autographs during an exclusive post-game meet & greet.
Childress is also an Ambassador for Sickle Cell Disease and will be
bringing out children and their families affected by this disease through
out the season. Along with that, on select games he will do pre-game meet and
greets with the families.

Hawks Honor Black History Month Contest Winner
Atlanta Hawks Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins joined team executives and
representatives from Wendy's



















