JR. JAZZ
Over 65,000 youth between the ages of eight and 18 participate in Jr. Jazz basketball, making it one of the largest youth sports programs in the world. Run through recreation departments in four different states, young players have the opportunity to learn basketball fundamentals and practice those skills as they play games against other youth in their league. Jr. Jazz players are also given the opportunity to attend a Jazz game in the Delta Center each season. The highlight for many youth is when a Jazz player makes a personal appearance at their recreation center. Jazz players run drills, answer questions, and leave a picture for each child in the program. Jr. Jazz sites outside a 50-mile radius from the Delta Center are provided with a player clinic during the summer months, when a player takes to the road and travels to outlying locations. Since 1984, the Jazz has made over 600 Jr. Jazz appearances throughout the Intermountain West.

STORMING THE WASATCH FRONT
Jazz players used their own kind of shock and awe when they visited various locations throughout Greater Salt Lake City. While doing various tasks like cutting hair, bagging groceries and working fast food windows, Jazz players also managed to hand out thousands of tickets to games. Players also made surprise visits to local fire and police departments. A group of local firemen were treated to their own suite during a preseason game.

READ TO ACHIEVE
On October 14, 2004, Jazz men Carlos Boozer, Andrei Kirilenko and Matt Harpring, welcomed second and third graders from Riley Elementary to the Utah Museum of Natural History as they participated in the NBA’s Read to Achieve program; a year-long program that teaches kids the importance of reading.

TOYS FOR TOTS
Jazz fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to two Jazz home games before Christmas. Partnering with the Marines and their Toys for Tots program, the Jazz collect toys for children who need help during the holiday season.

TRICK-OR-TREATING FOR UNICEF
This wasn’t your normal group of trick-or-treaters. As fans filed into the Delta Center on October 22, 2004, these trick-or-treaters, students from a local elementary school dressed in Halloween costumes and toting orange UNICEF boxes, greeted each guest asking for donations. Their focus: raise money for UNICEF.

With these kids running around the Delta Center in search of generous fans they were able to raise nearly $800 for UNICEF. This amount will be able to benefit children in other countries more than anyone can imagine.

NO BOOKS DAY
No Books Day encourages teachers to close their textbooks for the day and teach from the newspaper. The
section for the 2004-05 season concentrated on the Utah Jazz, reading and sportsmanship. More than 75,000 newspapers were ordered for students.

JAZZ AND GEOGRAPHY
Trivia spotlighting the Utah Jazz and geography facts on places where the team travels, runs in the Deseret News sports section every other week for 10 weeks. Sets of newspapers are made available for teachers who wish to participate in this program. A drawing is held during halftime of a game, with the grand prize being a classroom visit by a Jazz player.

PANCAN
During the Jazz’s season-opening game against the Lakers, 60-plus volunteers from Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) wandered the concourses of the Delta Center hours prior to tip off and even through halftime. The tireless and selfless efforts of these dedicated volunteers were able to raise nearly $5,000 with the help of the always-generous Jazz fans.

HEROES AMONG US
Each month the Jazz, along with Siegfried and Jensen, recognize a person who quietly goes about doing good for other people. The “Heroes Among Us” program seeks to spotlight the people who do thankless work like running a homeless shelter, taking in troubled teens, or even saving a life.

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
A long-term partnership between the Utah Jazz and Boy Scouts of America continues with boys who sell the most tickets to Scout-A-Rama being invited to the Delta Center for dinner. Winners are acknowledged at halftime of a Jazz game, and the Jazz award basketballs, tickets and other prizes to scouts who meet selling goals.

On Friday, November 12th, Utah Jazz President Dennis Haslam presented four checks totaling $100,000 to four different parks and recreation centers along the Wasatch Front.

The donation, which is the largest lump sum given at one time by Larry H. Miller Charities, will go towards the construction of four outdoor basketball courts at Taylorsville Recreation Center, Redwood Recreation Center, Fisher Park in Clearfield, and Miller Park in American Fork.

Upon completing these basketball courts, Larry H. Miller Charities will have assisted in the construction of six courts along the Wasatch Front. These courts have contributed to recreation in the community and promoted healthy lifestyles by giving citizens in the community a place to get this physical activity.

BOOZER RECEIVES COMMUNITY ASSIST AWARD
Prior to tip-off of the November 8th game against the Denver Nuggets, Boozer was presented the NBA Community Assist Award for the month of August. The award, which is given monthly by the league to recognize players for their charitable efforts, is something Boozer takes great pride in.

In August, and as a member of the USA Basketball Team, Boozer constantly showed his support for his country and those protecting our freedom by hosting thousands of servicemen and women at practices, scrimmages and games during their preparation for the 2004 Olympic games in Athens

THE POLAR EXPRESS
Teaming up with Warner Bros. and the Megaplex 17, the Utah Jazz sponsored an advanced screening of “The Polar Express” for local children and their parents.

RINGING THE BELL
It’s not just the players and coaches who have been giving back, front office executives were spotted on the morning of December 20th doing what they could to help. Positioned in front of Crossroads Plaza, these executives took turns ringing the bell for the Salvation Army in an effort to raise money for the organization for Christmas.

BOOZER’S BUDDIES
Carlos Boozer has purchased 50 tickets for every Jazz home game to be given out to youth groups throughout Utah. A quick look around the arena and a banner hangs high proclaiming Boozer’s Buddies.

Boozer’s Buddies seeks to encourage a positive and entertaining experience for young children along the Wasatch Front. It is designed to include youth of all ages and personal backgrounds. The tickets will be distributed to local groups per their request.

I CAN’T WAIT COOKBOOK
In order to fund their generous giving, “The Rest of the Jazz” have released their own cookbook. To go along with the team’s international flavor, the “I Can’t Wait” cookbook features favorite recipes of Jazz players, coaches, front office executive, Jazz television personalities and former players. The sales from these cookbooks go to fund children and women’s issues groups.

HONORING VETERANS
In attendance at the Utah Jazz’s game November 10th game were more than 1,500 veterans of the Utah National Guard, Marine Corps, Navy Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force and Army Reserve.

In honor of Veteran’s Day, volunteers handed out 20,000 patriotic ribbons to fans as they entered the doors of the Delta Center, and employees of both the Delta Center and Utah Jazz who served their country wore yellow roses donated by The Rose Shop. A color guard from the Utah National Guard presented the flag for the singing of the National Anthem. During the game, veterans were asked to stand so they could be recognized for their service to their country.

TSUNAMI RELIEF
In the wake of the devastating tsunami that killed over 150,000 people in Asia, the Utah Jazz and the Red Cross joined forces at the Delta Center for three games in January to raise fund to benefit the victims. In addition to the funds raised at the Delta Center, Larry H. Miller Charities donated $5,726; $1 for every full- and part-time employee in the Larry H. Miller Group. In total, the Jazz raised over $25,000 for relief efforts.

OLDER WORKERS NIGHT
The Utah Jazz and The Utah Older Worker Coordinating Council have partnered to present the 2004 Outstanding Older Workers. These individuals have demonstrated outstanding performances in the workplace: Rafael Cabrera, Reta Campbell, Vivian Grover, and Jeanne Anderson.

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE
While rehabbing his injured knee, all-star forward Andrei Kirilenko was making an impact off the court. Kirilenko visited the Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake to read to children and then took his goodwill to the staff up at Primary Children’s Hospital; giving out “I Can’t Wait” cookbooks and signing autographs.

BE A TEAM PLAYER – READ!
Schools along the Wasatch Front who hold one Scholastic Book Fair are eligible to participate in “Be A Team Player - Read!” a program that logs students out-of-school reading time during the month of February. The 12 schools whose students record the most minutes reading will have a Jazz player visit their school and students will be treated to an ice cream party. During the 2004-05 season, over 80 schools participated in this reading program sponsored by the Utah Jazz and Scholastic Book Fairs.

NAACP SCHOLARSHIP
On January 17, 2005, the Utah Jazz presented Clem Collins IV with a $1,000 college scholarship at the annual NAACP Martin Luther King day luncheon. On hand to present the award were Utah Jazz owner, Larry H. Miller, Jazz team president, Dennis Haslam, and NAACP president, Jeanetta Williams. Funding for the NAACP scholarship was provided by Larry H. Miller Charities.

This year’s winner, Clem Collins IV, is currently attending the University of Utah, where he is pursuing a degree in civil engineering. Collins has served as an intern with the Bureau of Reclamation and is actively involved as a leader in his church youth group.

CHRISTMAS HOSPITAL VISITS
On December 7th, the Utah Jazz continued with one of their long-time holiday traditions by visiting Primary Children’s Hospital and Shriner’s Hospital. The Jazz players and coaches spent the majority of their afternoon assembled with patients making crafts, signing autographs, and handing out mini Jazz basketballs.

BEAR CHRISTMAS
The actual holiday was still a week away, but the Christmas spirit was alive and well, as Utah Jazz mascot Bear treated over 150 children to shopping sprees at an area Wal-Mart.