Mavs Host 3rd Annual Tux & Tennies Gala, presented by Stanford Private Wealth Management
by: Brian Feldt

The Dallas Mavericks were seen donning a new uniform earlier this month – a tuxedo.

The Mavericks Foundation hosted its third annual Tux & Tennies Gala, a dinner/auction in which guests and players were encouraged to wear black tie attire with casual tennis shoes.

Although the new wear is likely not to stick on the court, the Gala’s success may have the Mavs thinking of including more black and white in its jersey.

Presented by Stanford Private Wealth Management, the Gala benefited the Mavs Foundation and raised more than a half a million in proceeds. The Mavs Foundation seeks to assist young people through programs stressing education, good health and skills necessary for their future success.

More than 300 guests enjoyed a variety of events including silent and live auctions, live music, a dinner program and a tennies contest, in which guests were encouraged to decorate and personalize their tennis shoes.

The highlight of the program, though, was the presentation of seven grants to local organizations including Promise House, Wednesday’s Child, Parkland Foundation, Bryan’s House, Child Care Group, Women’s Center of Tarrant County and Dallas CASA.

Each recipient was honored with a short video production before being awarded the grant, which was worth $25,000.

The Mavs also gave away four special project grants to the Boys & Girls Club of Arlington, the Dallas County Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program, the Presbyterian Hospital of Plano and the Caring for Children Foundation of Texas, Inc.

A live auction, hosted by the Gala’s emcee Babe Laufenberg, featured several unique items including a round of golf with Mavs players Jason Terry and Devin Harris at Dallas National Golf Course, a dinner for four guests cooked by Mavs coach Avery Johnson, a part in an upcoming Hollywood film produced by Mavs owner Mark Cuban’s 29/29 production company and a Re-Dirk-ulous package, which included an all-day funfest with the Mavs superstar Dirk Nowitzki.

2006-07 Grant Recipients

Bryan’s House

Bryan’s House/Open Arms received funding for the installation of new carpet and baseboards inside their facility.  The carpet is being installed in the residential area, day care, and administrative offices.  Bryan’s House provides residential services and day care for children with AIDS and supports families affected by HIV and AIDS.  Bryan’s House serves approximately 834 youth annually of all ages in the Greater Dallas Metropolitan area.  80% of Bryan’s House’s clientele live below the poverty line, and 90% are African-American and Hispanic.

Child Care Group

Child Care Group received funding for a facelift for 4 of their 6 child development centers in the Dallas area.  These 4 centers serve 670 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers annually in the economically challenged areas of Oak Cliff, South and East Dallas, Irving, and Garland.  Child Care Group offers family focused child care free of charge and thus has limited resources to pay for facility repairs/renovations.  Funding went towards the purchase of cleaning supplies, paint, painting equipment, flooring, shelving, rugs, and landscaping materials.

Dallas CASA

Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) received funding to provide advocacy to abused and neglected children in the city of Dallas from newborn to 18 years of age.  Dallas CASA provides volunteer advocates to approximately 980 victims annually; funding from the Mavs Foundation is helping to provide advocates to 14 of these children.  They recruit, train, and supervise these court appointed volunteers to represent the best interests of these children by finding them safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible while protecting them from further harm.

Parkland Foundation

The Parkland Foundation received funding to send burn patients to Camp I-Thonka-Chi, which means “a place that makes one strong or fearless, not afraid to face life.”  Camp I-Thonka-Chi serves 65-75 youth annually ages 6-18 at Camp John Marc in Meridian, TX.  The camp is an opportunity for children and teens to interact with others who have sustained burn injuries and find a whole new level of acceptance.  Camp activities such as swimming, fishing, boating, a ropes course, horseback riding, volleyball, basketball, softball, and arts and crafts are designed to enhance self-esteem, promote a sense of community, and provide an opportunity for peer-to-peer support.  Funding from the Mavs Foundation will cover the camp fees for 71 patients across the state of Texas.

Promise House

Promise House received funding for their on-site Emergency Youth Shelter.  The shelter serves 400-600 youth annually ages 10-17 in Dallas and surrounding areas.  The shelter offers no-cost, teen-focused housing for 20 runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth at a time for up to 30 days.  Last year, the shelter offered 5,183 total bed nights for a direct cost of $96.61 per night.  This cost covers food, clothing, shelter, case management, therapy, 24-hour supervision, as well as educational and recreational activities.  Funding from the Mavs Foundation will provide 259 bed nights at Promise House.

Wednesday’s Child Benefit Corporation

Wednesday’s Child Benefit Corporation received funding to provide tutoring sessions for foster children.  This project will serve 20-25 youth annually ages 6-18 in Dallas, Fort Worth, and 17 surrounding counties.  Wednesday’s Child is the only organization that provides funds to fulfill the specific needs of North Texas foster children.  Funding will provide a total of 1,000 tutoring sessions at a maximum cost of $25 each for these abused and neglected children.

Women’s Center of Tarrant County

The Women’s Center of Tarrant County received funding for their Victimized Children Program.  This initiative serves 50 youth annually ages 0-18 living in Tarrant County.  The Victimized Children Program provides a spectrum of services designed to promote the healing and recovery of children who have been sexually abused or assaulted, or have experienced other violent crime.  The primary service is accessible, age appropriate clinical counseling (individual, group, play therapy) provided by licensed counselors.  Regular sessions are supplemented with special circumstance sessions such as hospital visits during child rape exams and accompaniment through criminal justice proceedings.  Funding will provide a total of 417 therapy sessions at $60 each, split up between approximately 50 children and their families.

Special Project Recipients

Computer Lab—Boys & Girls Club of Arlington

The Boys & Girls Club of Arlington is receiving a new computer lab at its Southeast branch.  This club services 800 youth annually, ages 6-18 in Arlington and Mansfield.  With new computer resources, B&G Club of Arlington will expand their educational programming into the realms of internet safety, basic computer skills such as spreadsheets and word processing, job search and career exploration, and digital arts including graphic design and digital photography.  In all, the Mavs Foundation has provided 14 state of the art computers and related equipment, a server, a network printer, new desks and computer chairs and a new paint job courtesy of Glidden/ICI Paints.

Court Renovation—Dallas County Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program

The Dallas County Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program is the beneficiary of a refurbished gymnasium courtesy of the Mavs Foundation.  This gym services 300 youth ages 10-17 on a monthly basis in Dallas county.  The Dallas County JJAEP serves as the last stop for troubled teens that have behavioral issues before being placed in a residential facility by the Juvenile Justice System.  In all, the Mavs Foundation has provided a new all-purpose Sport Court floor, new backboards, rims, and goal units, and new bleachers.  A special thank you to Fox Sports Net, Sprite, and NexCourt for their support of this project.

 Mavs Themed Room—Presbyterian Hospital of Plano

Presbyterian Hospital of Plano received funding for the creation of a Dallas Mavericks Room on the pediatric floor of the hospital.  The pediatric wing at Presbyterian serves 750 youth annually of various ages from the Plano, North Dallas, Frisco, Carrollton, and The Colony areas.  The funding has gone to renovate a patient room in a way that will provide comfort through artistically designed and colorful surroundings.  This room would be Mavs and basketball themed room that will provide strength and encouragement to children in their recovery and fight against illness.  Funding has specifically been used for exterior and interior room painting, furniture, flooring, and fabrics.

Vaccination Van—Caring for Children Foundation of Texas, Inc.

The Caring for Children Foundation of Texas received funding from both the Mavs Foundation and the Woodall Foundation for the creation of a Care Van sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.  The Care Van is a mobile immunization unit that provides flu shots and other infectious disease prevention services to youth that don’t otherwise have access to such resources.  This van will serve approximately 10,000 youth in the DFW area annually, ages 4-18.  The van’s design has incorporated both the Mavs Foundation and Woodall Foundation logos and is fully equipped with all necessary medical supplies.