The Miami HEAT hosted a HEAT Youth Basketball Clinic, presented by Gatorade at the AmericanAirlines Arena on January 22nd. HEAT legend Alonzo Mouring and HEAT Video Coordinator, Eric Glass helped conduct the event along with In-Arena Host Dale, Burnie, and the Xtreme Team. The event included approximately 100 fifth grade students from the HEAT Academy programs at Riverside Elementary, Paul L. Dunbar K-8 Center, and Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Elementary School.
The clinic is in accordance with NBA FIT, the league's comprehensive health and wellness program that encourages physical activity and healthy living for children and families through programs, events, and products year-round. Through a nationwide network of more than 1,100 community-based organizations, NBA/WNBA FIT reaches more than 2.5 million youth and families each year.
The HEAT Youth Basketball Program, presented by Gatorade, supplied each participant in the clinic with a free HEAT Youth Basketball t-shirt, membership card for a discount at The Miami HEAT Store, as well as a HEAT Youth Basketball bookmark and a commemorative 2013 championship team mini-poster.
Through a collaborative partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools and The HEAT Group's corporate partners, the Miami HEAT has teamed up to facilitate HEAT Academy at these three local inner city schools. HEAT Academy provides educational support to a total of 300 students across the three elementary schools from third to fifth grade. Although the program is free for students enrolled, students are required to meet certain attendance goals and abide by a strict code of conduct to remain eligible. The program operates the majority of the school year, Monday through Friday from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. HEAT Staffers volunteer their time throughout the year to assist HEAT Academy students.