Knicks, Garden of Dreams Tip-Off Season

On Tuesday, October 20th, the New York Knicks and Garden of Dreams Foundation celebrated the start of the 2009-10 Knicks' season by hosting the 3rd Annual Knicks Launch Party at Madison Square Garden. The guest list for the celebration included 250 children and families from nine Garden of Dreams partner organizations including Children's Village, Children's Aid Society, Life Center, the NYPD Widows and Children's Fund, WHEDCo, Harlem Dowling, Loisaida, the Uniformed Firefighters Association and SCO Family of Services.

Children enjoyed various carnival games, interactive video games, face painters, and balloon sculptors alongside Knicks legend, John Starks and the Knicks City Dancers.

“I feel privileged to have the chance to be a part of this event. It is great to bring so many children to a Knicks game but to give them the opportunity to come to Madison Square Garden early for this is special,” Starks said. “It’s all about the kids tonight.”

In between eating their dinner, the children lined up around the video games and carnival booths for a wide variety of activities. Many children competed as the Knicks in NBA video games and future idols stepped up to play Rock Band, while others battled the KCD in basketball and on the dance floor. Face painters were putting the best disguises on the kids and upon the conclusion of the party, each child received a box of popcorn and cotton candy before heading to the arena to cheer on the Knicks in their final home preseason game of the 2009-10 season.

For more information on the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit charity that works closely with all areas of Madison Square Garden, including the Rangers, Knicks, Liberty, MSG Entertainment, MSG Media and fuse to "make dreams come true for kids in crisis," please log onto gardenofdreamsfoundation.org.