Utah Jazz Community Outreach

Utah Jazz and AT&T Assist Salt Lake County's Reforestation Efforts

Through AT&T’s Assist the Community program, AT&T donated $5 toward community reforestation efforts for each assist made by a Jazz player during the 2012-2013 season. The Utah Jazz and AT&T commemorated the culmination of the program by dedicating a day for reforestation efforts in the greater Salt Lake area.

On April 9, in partnership with TreeUtah and Salt Lake County’s Million Trees project, AT&T and the Jazz hosted a community tree-planting event at the Kennecott Nature Center in Murray, Utah. Utah Jazz representatives Craig Bolerjack, the Jazz Bear and the Nu Skin Jazz Dancers, along with a team from AT&T and more than 45 students from Murray High School, planted trees to help achieve the goal of planting one million trees in Salt Lake County by 2017.

That evening, the first 10,000 fans in attendance for the Jazz vs. Thunder game received free tree saplings, courtesy of AT&T. During a halftime ceremony, AT&T’s Marty Clark presented a $10,000 donation to TreeUtah and Salt Lake County with funds raised via AT&T’s Assist the Community program.

TreeUtah provides grants, resources and educational information to encourage the planting of trees throughout Utah. Million Trees is a program that originated as a 10-year plan to plant one million trees in Salt Lake County by 2017. AT&T and the Jazz are proud to partner with these organizations in their efforts to improve the health and well-being of citizens and communities in Utah through reforestation.

Utah Jazz Coaches and Trainers Support Local Boys & Girls Clubs

Since the 2008-09 season, Utah Jazz coaches and trainers have provided local children the opportunity to attend Jazz basketball games via the National Basketball Association’s Coaches for Kids initiative. Through the program, NBA coaches, assistant coaches, general managers and athletic trainers donate to Boys & Girls Clubs of America, enabling thousands of youth across the nation to attend NBA games.

Participants in the Jazz Coaches for Kids program are drawn from Boys & Girls Clubs located along the Wasatch Front. This season included, Jazz coaches and trainers will have hosted a total of more than 3,000 youth at Jazz home games over the past five years.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America traces its roots back to 1860, when several women in Connecticut decided to offer boys who roamed the streets a positive alternative. The organization has since expanded to include girls and is located in communities throughout the nation.

Utah Jazz Players and Coaching Staff Host Basketball Clinic for At-Risk Youth

In October, Utah Jazz players Maurice “Mo” Williams and Derrick Favors, Jazz coaching staff and the Jazz Bear reached out to local at-risk youth. The team bussed approximately 40 elementary and middle school students from the U.S. Dream Academy to the Jazz practice facility, Zions Bank Basketball Center, where a free basketball clinic was provided.

Bear greeted students upon arrival, and Mark McKown, assistant coach/player development, led the group in a warm-up session. Participants then learned fundamental basketball skills from Williams, Favors and Jazz coaching staff Brad Jones, Johnnie Bryant and Richard Smith. At the end of the afternoon, students received gifts from the Utah Jazz and a pizza dinner courtesy of Papa John’s.

The U.S. Dream Academy is a nonprofit organization that focuses on assisting children who have a parent or other family member that is incarcerated. The Utah chapter is based at the Dual Immersion Academy in Salt Lake City. Programs that are provided help vulnerable youth develop the skills needed to lead successful lives.

The event was held as part of the National Basketball Association’s social initiative, NBA Cares. NBA teams across the league supported the initiative by participating in service projects the week of October 22-29.

Utah Jazz Players Greet Local Fans

In mid October, Utah Jazz players visited local malls to mingle with fans as part of the team’s Hit the Streets community outreach event. Dividing into small groups, they stopped by Fashion Place, Valley Fair and South Towne malls. Team members greeted shoppers, met with fans and posed for photos as they strolled down the concourse. Complimentary Jazz logo decals were distributed as well.

Utah Jazz Visits Local Veterans

In December, Utah Jazz Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin O'Connor and Jazz guard Mo Williams took a trip to the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center to spread holiday cheer to men and women who have served in the military. While they were there, O'Connor and Williams visited with patients and provided autographed basketballs as gifts.

Based in Salt Lake City, the medical center operates in part due to the ongoing efforts of countless volunteers. Veterans have access to a variety of medical services that treat physical and mental illness. The campus is also home to Fisher House, a nonprofit facility that provides families of veterans receiving hospital treatment with free or low-cost temporary lodging.

Williams' father and brother both served in the armed forces for many years. The Jazz guard considers it an honor to give back to veterans and holds the military and its many branches in high regard.

"I feel a warm part in my heart for veterans," says Williams. "To come out and be supportive and help them through whatever it is that they are going through, even if it is just for a day, a week or whatever the case may be, is both an honor and a privilege."

Utah Jazz Community Basketball Court Opens at Neptune Park

On Wednesday, April 25, the Utah Jazz held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Neptune Park (473 West 400 North) in Saratoga Springs, Utah, to celebrate the opening of a new Jazz community basketball court. Jazz player Josh Howard, members of Jazz management, the Jazz Bear and city officials took part in the celebration.

The new court measures 100 feet long and 70 feet wide, and consists of one seamless slab of concrete. Boundary lines are in team colors, and a large Jazz logo is located at center court. Six basketball standards surround the perimeter, allowing numerous groups to play simultaneously.

Funding for the project was provided by Saratoga Springs and by Larry H. Miller Charities, a nonprofit foundation representing the charitable arm of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies.

Jazz President Randy Rigby said, “The Jazz is thrilled to continue its tradition of collaborating with local cities on the construction of community basketball courts, and the team is grateful for the support of Larry H. Miller Charities and Saratoga Springs. We hope the public will enjoy using this new facility for years to come.”

This is the ninth community basketball court that the Utah Jazz and Larry H. Miller Charities have helped build along the Wasatch Front. Other courts are located at: Sugarhouse Park (Salt Lake City), Smith Fields Park (Draper), Fisher Park (Clearfield), Taylorsville Recreation Center (Salt Lake City), Redwood Recreation Center (Salt Lake City), Veterans Memorial Park (Salt Lake City), Miller Park (American Fork), and Palmer Court, a private facility that provides affordable housing to low-income individuals and families in the Salt Lake City area.

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Utah Jazz Players Read at Local Elementary Schools

Cheers rang down the hallways of 10 local elementary schools in late February as Utah Jazz players visited winners of the team’s annual reading contest, Be A Team Player – Read. Nearly 21,500 students from 35 elementary schools participated in the contest this year, with a combined total of more than 17.2 million minutes read.

Students busily buried their heads in books for four weeks during January and February as they charted their out-of-school reading minutes. The top 10 participating schools with the most minutes read per student were rewarded with a visit from a Jazz player and an ice cream party for the entire student body.

The winning schools were: Channing Hall, Draper; Lincoln Academy, Pleasant Grove; Meridian School, Orem; North Point Elementary School, Lehi; Northlake Elementary School, Tooele; Saint John the Baptist Elementary School, Draper; Saint Olaf Catholic School, Bountiful; Snow Springs Elementary School, Lehi; Syracuse Arts Academy, Syracuse; and The Ranches Academy, Eagle Mountain (schools listed in alphabetical order).

Be a Team Player – Read focuses on increasing literacy skills in children and is held in conjunction with NBA Cares, the league’s global community outreach initiative. The program was sponsored by the Utah Jazz, Scholastic Book Fairs, Russell’s Ice Cream, Sizzler, Great Clips and Med One Capital, and this year marked its 15th year of implementation.

Jazz Coaching Staff Holds Basketball Clinic for Jr. Wheelin’ Jazz

In November, coaching staff from the Utah Jazz hosted a basketball clinic for the Neuroworx Jr. Wheelin’ Jazz. The Jr. Wheelin’ Jazz is a member of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Junior Division and consists of players between the ages of 13-21 who live along the Wasatch Front.

Team members met at the Jazz practice facility and received a tour of the locker room prior to the clinic’s start. Mark McKown, assistant coach/player development, began the session by leading participants in a brief warm-up. Utah Jazz Head Coach Tyrone Corbin and assistant coaches Scott Layden, Jeff Hornacek and Sidney Lowe then ran a series of drills aimed at teaching fundamental basketball skills. Family and friends attended and watched from the sidelines to offer their support.

In only its second year of competing at the national level, the Jr. Wheelin’ Jazz entered the 2011 NWBA tournament ranked eighth in its division and finished at fifth. Team member Eliza McIntosh recently broke the world record for the longest continuous wheelie in a wheelchair (10.016 miles) by logging 12.447 miles.

Utah Jazz community relations programs have benefited a wide range of local organizations, including children’s hospitals, senior centers, schools and many charitable groups

Utah Jazz Helps Local Children’s Hospital

In February, Utah Jazz President Randy Rigby and the team’s mascot, Bear, helped Primary Children’s Medical Center open a new Jazz-themed interventional radiology suite. Rigby and Bear participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Primary Children’s new chief executive officer, Katy Welkie, hospital staff and 11-year-old patient Hunter Shipman.

The team, in conjunction with Primary Children’s, renovated the radiology suite into a child-friendly environment that features the Jazz logo and colors, oversized player and mascot photos, autographed ceiling tiles, signed memorabilia and video greetings from Jazz players.

Rigby said, “The Utah Jazz values its long-standing relationship with Primary Children’s Medical Center and is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate on a project that will benefit so many children. Our goal was to create a comfortable and welcoming environment that would help young patients feel at ease.”

The Utah Jazz has supported Primary Children’s for many years by participating in fundraising events, contributing donations, and offering donated tickets to patients and their families. Shortly after the franchise moved to Utah, Jazz coaches and players began visiting children at the hospital each December, a tradition that continues today.

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Jazz Coaches Hold Basketball Clinic for Underprivileged Youth

In early March, Utah Jazz personnel and coaching staff held a private basketball clinic for underprivileged youth at the team’s practice facility, Zions Bank Basketball Center. Participants were selected by Catholic Community Services, a nonprofit organization that helps individuals who are in need achieve self sufficiency. Approximately 30 children between the ages of 8-17 attended the clinic.

Youth toured the locker room and received instruction in fundamental basketball skills from Scott Layden and Jeff Hornacek, assistant coaches for the team, and from Matt Harpring, Jazz broadcaster and former NBA player. Director of basketball operations, Richard Smith, and assistant coach/player development, Mark McKown, were also on hand to teach youth.

In recent years, numerous basketball clinics have been held by members of the Jazz coaching staff as part of their community outreach efforts.

Utah Jazz Players and Coaches Visit Local Children’s Hospitals

The Utah Jazz brought Christmas cheer to hospitalized children and their families as players, members of the coaching staff, the Jazz Bear and the Nu Skin Jazz Dancers spent an afternoon calling on patients at Primary Children’s Medical Center and Shriners Hospital for Children - Salt Lake City.

Eyes lit up and smiles soon followed, as Jazz players stopped by rooms and greeted children at bedside. Small basketballs were personally autographed as the athletes posed for photos and visited with patients and their families. Players at Shriners Hospital also met with children in the recreation area to play basketball.

Randy Rigby, president of the Jazz said, “Our players really look forward to making these visits. Meeting with the children is one of the highlights of their year.”

The Utah Jazz has a long-standing tradition of reaching out to youth during the holidays, and Jazz team members have made annual Christmas visits to hospitalized children for more than 25 years.

Jefferson, Millsap and Miles Thank Arena Employees

Each year, hundreds of EnergySolutions Arena security personnel and members of guest services help patrons at Jazz basketball games have a safe, pleasurable experience. In recognition of the many hours these employees work and the outstanding service they provide, Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and C.J. Miles sponsored a dinner of appreciation.

On two separate evenings in February, roles were reversed as ushers and members of security became guests at the arena, with the players covering all costs. Those in attendance enjoyed a relaxing night dining on gourmet food in EnergySolutions Arena’s VIP Room.

Jefferson, Millsap and Miles were on the road with the team and unable to attend the event, but a video expressing their gratitude was presented. “We just want to show our appreciation with this dinner,” said Jefferson.

Utah Jazz Honors Scout Contest Winners

The Utah Jazz is a long-standing supporter of Boy Scouts of America and for many years has provided contest incentives to encourage ticket sales to Scout-O-Rama, an annual fundraising event. In 2012, scouts from the Great Salt Lake Council competed for prizes that were awarded based on the number of tickets sold.

Winners of the competition were honored during a ceremony held prior to a Jazz preseason game. Sam Huff placed first in ticket sales, Alexander Josie placed second and Jeremy Josie placed third. Great Salt Lake Council leaders Gregory Phillips and Vic Rowberry assisted with the awards presentation.

The Utah Jazz is proud to be affiliated with Boy Scouts of America and recognizes the positive influence this outstanding institution has had on youth over the years.

Jazz and LHM Group Employees Honor Larry H. Miller Through Community Service

On April 26, the Utah Jazz and Larry H. Miller Group of Companies paid tribute to the late Larry H. Miller for his many contributions to the community. That day, an estimated 1100 employees in Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and New Mexico simultaneously participated in service projects that benefited local cities, organizations and charitable groups.

In Utah, more than 600 Jazz and LHM Group employees provided several hours of service to Neighborhood House, the Salvation Army and other community agencies along the Wasatch Front that aid those in need. In addition, employees coordinated with the Seer Group to assist the City of South Salt Lake in painting, repairing and landscaping homes in a low-income neighborhood.

Larry H. Miller felt strongly about helping others and improving the communities in which his companies are based. He often quoted the phrase, “Go about doing good until there’s too much good in the world.”

In April of 2010, the Miller family initiated a corporate day of service in memory of Miller to recognize his legacy of giving. Since then, the family has continued the tradition annually on the anniversary of the former Jazz-owner’s day of birth.

Utah Jazz Hosts Thanksgiving Celebration for Homeless

In November, the Utah Jazz and EnergySolutions Arena collaborated with Salt Lake City Mission and Utah Food Services to feed Salt Lake’s homeless and low-income population. Approximately 4,000 dinners were served at We Care – We Share, a Thanksgiving dinner celebration that was held at the arena.

Members of the Miller family and Jazz front office staff worked side-by-side with Jazz coaches to serve hundreds of pounds of food to individuals in need. Guests dined on traditional Thanksgiving fare such as turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie while listening to music provided by Salt Lake City Mission. The mission also provided participants with transportation to the arena and a selection of clothing for those in need.

Serving Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless is a long-standing holiday tradition for the Utah Jazz.