MIAMI, September 30 – The Miami HEAT announced today that the Miami HEAT Family Outreach Charitable Fund has teamed up with the Miami Children’s Museum to become the exclusive sponsor of the museum’s Safety Zone, an area at the museum where children learn about the importance of safety. On Saturday, October 2 at 8PM, in conjunction with the museum’s first anniversary, HEAT players Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem will be part of the “Be a Kid Again” Gala to honor the milestone.

Burnie the HEAT mascot and the HEAT Dancers will also be on hand as the museum is transformed into an adult fantasy playground with live music, dining, dancing and plenty of fun and games. Wade and Haslem will be shooting hoops with guests in attendance, as the night will also feature a silent auction and raffle. Former HEAT center Alonzo Mourning and his wife, Tracy, serve as Honorary Chairpersons.

The museum will be used by the HEAT in conjunction with the team’s Read to Achieve initiative, which promotes a lifelong love of reading among South Florida’s youth. The museum will also serve as host to future HEAT related community outreach events including programs geared to the team’s after-school academic mentoring program, The HEAT Academy.

The Miami HEAT Family Outreach Charitable Fund was established in 1997 and is comprised of the Miami HEAT staff, players, coaches and wives. Since its inception, the HEAT Family Outreach has allocated nearly $4 million to the South Florida community through monetary donations, team memorabilia, donated merchandise and collectibles that help raise thousands of dollars for South Florida charities. The HEAT Foundation’s main beneficiaries are Jackson Memorial Foundation’s Guardian Angels, which supports the Holtz Center for seriously ill children, and SafeSpace, a domestic violence shelter for women and their children.

Founded in 1983, the Miami Children’s Museum is dedicated to enriching the lives of all children by fostering a love of learning and enabling children to realize their highest potential. Visitors of all ages are encouraged to play together, learn, imagine and create. The 56,500-square-foot facility includes 12 galleries, classrooms, parent/teacher resource center and 200-seat auditorium.

Media wishing cover the event should contact Woody Graber at 305-606-2979. The Museum is located at 980 MacArthur Causeway, on Watson Island in Miami, FL.