By Art Garcia | Mavs.com
Swept up in the wave of good vibrations, Jason Kidd couldn’t help himself. Not only did the Mavericks point guard add himself to the live auction, he bid on himself.
Talk about an assist.
Kidd’s generosity on several counts typified the spirit of the 4th Annual Tux & Tennies Gala, presented by Stanford Private
Wealth Management. The event benefiting the Dallas Mavericks Foundation took place Friday, March 21, 2008, at The Ritz-Carlton. Jason Terry flawlessly emceed the intimate gathering of 335 friends and sponsors that helped raise more than $500,000. The Mavericks Foundation has raised nearly $2 million in four years.
"I got tricked into this,” Terry quipped in typical ‘JET’ fashion. “I thought I was signing up for an autograph session.”
Seven worthy organizations received $25,000 grants this year: Community Partners of Dallas; Family Place; KidneyTexas, Inc; SpiritHorse
Therapeutic Riding Center; Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children; Vogel Alcove and YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth. Two special projects were also
completed: A new computer lab for Jeffries Street Learning Center and a court renovation at the Oak Cliff YMCA.
The grants assist in the mission of these organizations. Mavericks Foundation president Terdema Ussery said promoting health and
educational opportunities for children is the foundation’s chief objective. The direct benefit for the KidneyTexas, for example, is considerable, according to
the organization’s president.
"The Dallas Mavericks are a first-class organization that made it possible for our kidney kids to go to camp,” KidneyTexas president
Sharon Barbee said. “The Mavericks Foundation funded 119 kids that in no other way would be able to attend camp. For one week they get to do fun things and forget that they have this terrible malady.”
Though the evening had plenty of heart-tugging moments, there were plenty of smiles. The live auction portion of the program once again
served as a highlight. The four items up for bid were: A 2007-08 team photo and Swarovski crystal basketball, Hennessy X.O Mathusalem, dinner at Fearing’s with Jerry and Ramirra Stackhouse and an MVP clinic featuring Dirk Nowitzki.
Terry chimed in to assist the professional auctioneer during the Nowitzki clinic, which closed out the bidding. Terry coaxed Jason
Kidd into volunteering his time to the overnight event for kids at American Airlines Center. Kidd agreed, even though he had also been one of the bidders, and wound up winning the clinic for $100,000.
Kidd received a standing ovation.
What can I say,” Kidd said, summing up the night’s theme. “It’s for the kids.”
Special thanks to Stanford Private Wealth Management, Hennessy and Al's Formal Wear for their support of this year's Gala.
2008 GRANT RECIPIENTS
Community Partners of Dallas: Received funding to help stock their “Rainbow Room,” which serves more than 6,000 youth annually
ages 0-17 throughout Dallas County. Community Partners of Dallas helps protect and restore the well being of abused and neglected children by providing
resources to the caseworkers of Child Protective Services. The Rainbow Room provides critically needed items for children that have just been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect and have been placed in the care of relatives. These critical needs items include clothing, shoes, hygiene products, diapers, formula, car seats, school supplies and school uniforms.
The Family Place: Received funding for new playground equipment, which will serve 100 Dallas County youth annually ages
0-18 and their mothers, all who are participating in their transitional housing program. The playground, which also includes benches for the mothers, will be an essential element in helping them overcome the trauma of family violence and homelessness. The mission of The Family Place is to eliminate family violence through intervention and proactive prevention, extensive community education, advocacy, and assistance for victims and their families. Family Place programs include a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, supportive living program, child development center and community-based counseling.
KidneyTexas, Inc.: Received funding for Camp Reynal at Camp John Marc in Meridian, TX, which serves approximately 120 youth ages 8-16 throughout Texas. It is a one-week summer camp that provides an essential need for children with kidney disease by offering them an educational and
recreational experience. Because children with kidney disease require daily medications, special diets, and medical treatments, they are often excluded from
other camp experiences. Camp Reynal, which is the only camp in Texas that provides on-site kidney dialysis, strives to increase self-esteem and
self-confidence, create a sense of independence, improve social skills, and offer a sense of hope.
SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center: Received funding for horseback riding lessons/scholarships for children with disabilities. This project will directly impact 70 youth ages 1-17 in nine North Texas counties. SpiritHorse provides free, private therapeutic horseback riding to children with all types of physical, mental, and emotional disabilities for one year on a weekly basis. They are the only center in America that provides all these services free of charge. Their curriculum is designed to help children improve motor, speech, behavioral and social skills to cross boundaries set by
doctors, therapists and sometime parents.
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children: Received funding to purchase adapted daily living and mobility equipment for patients undergoing Physical and Occupational Therapy. This project will serve more than 1,000 youth annually ages 0-18 throughout the state of Texas. Adapted daily living equipment refers to medical equipment that allows children to continue everyday functioning following surgery or a procedure and is crucial to the patients’ safety and comfort during recovery. The Physical and Occupational Therapy Departments at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children have approximately 20,000 patient visits annually. They focus on helping children gain strength, coordination, and balance while putting these assets into motion to accomplish everyday tasks.
Vogel Alcove: Received funding for their play therapy program for homeless children, which serves approximately 100 youth
annually ages 2-6 in Dallas. Vogel Alcove provides free quality childcare, social services and developmental services for children living in homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters and transitional housing complexes. Their play therapy program strives to improve the social and emotional development of
these children who have experienced trauma caused by domestic violence, homelessness, neglect, and abuse. The grant will fund more than 600 play therapy sessions at a cost of $41 each.
YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth: Received funding for their “New Lives/New Beginnings Childcare” program, which serves 500 teen
parents ages 12-17 and their children ages 0-5 in the Poly/Como community in East Fort Worth. The program operates an on-site childcare center on the campus of Polytechnic High School to assist teen parents with quality, full-day childcare while they complete their high school education. The center offers pre-natal/post-partum nutrition classes, positive parenting classes, and health and wellness opportunities as well as a support network of other teen parents.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Jeffries Street Learning Center (Computer Lab): The Center services 250 youth annually ages 5-14 in economically distressed areas of South Dallas. Jeffries Street Learning Center serves multi-generation families by providing educational enrichment programs for both parents and their children targeted to improve their social and economic status with the ultimate goal of breaking the cycle of poverty. The Mavs Foundation provided 15 state of the art
computers and related equipment, a server, a network printer and new cubicle units courtesy of Office Expo.
Oak Cliff YMCA (Court Renovation): Services more than 500 youth annually ages 5-17 in South Dallas and Oak Cliff. The YMCA
teaches values that help to strengthen and support families, help teenagers make the transition into adulthood and create safe environments that allow
individuals to develop total health. The YMCA’s values embrace the universal truths inherent in relationships with others, including respect, responsibility,
caring, fairness, trustworthiness and citizenship. The Mavs Foundation provided a new all-purpose Sport Court floor, new backboards, rims and goal units. The court features a total of six hoops on five different courts.
LIVE AUCTION ITEMS
2007-08 Team Photo & Swarovski Crystal Basketball: Winning bidders were featured in the 2007-2008 team photo, received a
personalized uniform and a framed team picture autographed by all players and coaches. The specially made Swarovski Crystal Mavs Basketball autographed by reigning MVP Dirk Nowitzki.
Hennessy X.O Mathusalem: For the first time, Hennessy X.O is presented in a limited edition six liter decanter, complete with detailed craftsmanship, a contemporary fusil, and an embossed lambskin traveling suitcase. Only ten Hennessy X.O Mathusalems were imported into the United States and donated to individual charities in order to raise money for worthy causes.
Dinner at Fearing’s: Six guests are being treated to an unforgettable evening with Jerry and Ramirra Stackhouse at Fearing’s Restaurant. They will dine at the Chef’s Table, voted by Esquire Magazine as “Best Table” in the United States. The package also includes a night at The Ritz-Carlton and pampering at the lavish spa. Limo transportation is provided to and from The Ritz-Carlton.
MVP Clinic: A private basketball clinic for fifteen kids (ages 18 & under) taught by MVP Dirk Nowitzki and assistant coach Joe
Prunty. The clinic will be held on the Mavs practice court and the kids will have a sleepover in the locker room. Dinner and breakfast will be provided, and
each participant receives a Mavs goody bag.
 Jason Kidd and his guest play a little blackjack during the cocktail hour.
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 Guests decorated their shoes to try and win prizes.
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 Tyronn Lue tries his hand at blackjack.
NBAE/Getty Images |
 Devean George, Tyronn and guests.
NBAE/Getty Images |
 JET mingles with the crowd while opening the program.
NBAE/Getty Images |
 The tennies contest winners.
NBAE/Getty Images |
