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2009-10 NETS MUSIC PROGRAMThis past season the Nets created a music program and its goal was to have aspiring artists create a Nets theme song. As part of the program 15 students from Rosa L. Parks School in Paterson, NJ went on various music related experiences. They went to local studios for vocal lessons, music writing lessons and music production. The winning song, "Nets We Ballin'" by Roger Thomas and Alexander Parchment can be heard below…  SNOWBALL HOLIDAY PARTYThe Nets hosted the Snowball holiday party for 100 kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Newark on December 21st. Nets players, Nets dancers and Sly treated the kids to holiday fun at the Nets practice facility. The afternoon kicked-off with lunch donated by McDonald's and Domino's Pizza. Coca-Cola also donated Minute Maid juice for all the kids. In addition, M & M's provided the kids with M & M's candy. The players joined the kids and Sly in making snowflakes, ornaments, elf hats, and ice cream sundaes. The highlight of the afternoon was when Santa Sly made a special appearance and assisted the players in handing out gifts to all the children. Photo Gallery  SEASON OF GIVINGFrom November 16 through January 1, NBA teams will celebrate the annual NBA Cares Season of Giving. Teams will bring holiday cheer to thousands of people in need by hosting more than 350 charitable events throughout November and December. Players, coaches, and family members will join with dozens of community partners and thousands of local volunteers to make a difference in the lives of children and families during these difficult economic times. The Nets tipped off the Season of Giving by providing a Thanksgiving feast to homeless and low-income members of the Montclair Salvation Army. Nets players Devin Harris and Brook Lopez joined their teammates in serving the Thanksgiving meal as well as distributing food care packages and frozen turkeys to those in need. The Nets annual Thanksgiving event was sponsored by the Nets Foundation and Domino's Pizza. Photo Gallery  NBA CARES EVENTIn an effort to encourage volunteerism and in partnership with the White House's "United We Serve" initiative, the Nets hosted their NBA Cares Week of Service project on October 20th at Branch Brook Park in Newark, NJ. All 29 teams hosted projects during NBA Cares Week of Service as a way to give back to the community and to promote volunteering and community service. Nets players Devin Harris, Josh Boone, Bobby Simmons and Courtney Lee joined employees from the Nets front office and Nets mascot Sly in creating dress rings, spreading mulch and cleaning up the park. As part of the project, the Nets teamed up with The Land Conversancy of New Jersey and the Partners for Parks program.  DEVIN GOES TO SCHOOLThe Nets and the American Dairy Association held their annual Take A Net to School contest on Friday, September 25, 2009. Michael Ulrich, an 8th grade student from Lincoln Middle School in Hawthorne, NJ was the winner of the contest this year. As the Grand Prize winner, Michael got to take Nets All Star Guard Devin Harris to school. Devin started the day by meeting Michael at his home in Hawthorne where he also met his family and friends and played some ball with them. When it was time to go to school, Devin gave Michael a ride to school in his Ferrari. Once they arrived at school, Michael took Devin to his homeroom and then his 1st period class where they enjoyed a 3 A Day breakfast with Michael's classmates. After breakfast, Devin quizzed the kids, signed autographs and took photos with everyone in attendance. Nets mascot Sly was also on hand for the festivities. Watch Video | Photo Gallery  DEVIN HARRIS GIVE COMMUNITY ASSISTThe NBA will presented Devin with the NBA Community Assist Award for March at the NBA Store on Tuesday, April 28th at 3 pm. Families from the Make A Wish Foundation as well as kids from Big Brothers Big Sisters were invited. Devin ran the kids through a fitness time-out followed by Q&A and then a private autograph session. Devin also hosted a public autograph session for customers who purchase $15 or more worth of store merchandise. Photo Gallery  PROJECT REBOUNDIn partnership with Toyota, the NBA and the Nets teamed up to create a Fun & Fitness Center at East Orange Recreation Center in East Orange, NJ. Nets players Vince Carter, Devin Harris, Jarvis Hayes, and Keyon Dooling along with Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Lanier, Nets mascot Sly and Nets dancers hosted the ribbon-cutting ceremony and then joined members of the center in exploring the new room and trying out the brand new interactive fitness and gaming equipment. The space in the recreation center was completely refurbished and features new flooring, windows, ceiling, bathrooms, cabinets, heating system and paint donated by Sherwin Williams. Now in its second season, Toyota Project Rebound is a community initiative established by the NBA and Toyota. The program includes 15 hands-on community service projects that will be hosted by NBA teams, and will include court refurbishments, the creation of Learn & Play Centers, and other Legacy Projects providing youth safe places to live, learn or play. Projects have been scheduled throughout the 2008-09 season, including during major events like NBA All-Star and The Finals. Photo Gallery 2008-09 FACTS AND QUOTES CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH The Nets and Amtrak have joined together for their fourth consecutive year to celebrate Black History Month with Facts and Quotes for each day of the month. The Nets and Amtrak will tip off the program with a Black History Month art contest focusing on how African Americans contributed to the development of the national railroad system and/or the influence of the railroad on the lives of African Americans, particularly after the Civil War. Arts High School of Newark, NJ will participate in the art contest being held at the Winners Club located in the IZOD center. Read More | Photo Gallery DEVIN HARRIS GOES ROCK CLIMBING Nets star Devin Harris went indoor rock climbing with 30 kids from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Morris, Bergen, and Passaic counties as part of the Nets "Passport to Fitness" program on January 27. Devin and the kids, ranging in age from 8 to 16, received an introductory lesson followed by rock climbing. The rock climbing outing was the third event for "Passport to Fitness," the Nets' new program that encourages youngsters to participate in fun fitness and nutrition activities. Over the past two months, Devin has gone bowling and conducted a basketball and fitness clinic for the same 30 youngsters. Through April 2009, the 30 kids will participate in different activities such as hiking and cooking lessons, and will make visits to other sports venues in the area to learn strategies about approaching fitness and nutrition.  Watch Video | Photo Gallery
DEVIN HARRIS BASKETBALL CLINIC - SOLD OUT! Devin will speak about his basketball experiences and his journey to the NBA. Throughout the day, participants will learn basic basketball fundamentals that are position specific from each Nets player as well as the team concept of basketball. Teams will maintain a safe player-to-coach ratio to ensure maximum individual instruction. Watch Video | Read MoreREADING TIME-OUT In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, former Nets star Kerry Kittles hosted a special reading time-out for 100 3rd and 4th graders at the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club on Monday, January 19th. Nets mascot Sly and several of the Nets Dancers were also in attendance. The children were treated to a story about the life of Martin Luther King Jr. In addition to the reading time-out, Kittles and the dancers conducted a question and answer session with the children and signed autographs for everyone. The Nets Read to Achieve program is sponsored by Western Union and Pathmark and includes various events such as reading time-outs, player appearances, school visits, and book donations. NETS PAINT TOWN RED To help celebrate the start of the season, Nets players "Painted the Town Red" by visiting several locations in the metropolitan area on Thursday, October 30th. Splitting into groups, the players interacted with fans at Western Union/Pathmark, Home Depot, LukeOil, and the NBA Store while Yi paid a visit to Chinatown. In addition to signing autographs and taking photographs with fans, the players performed various tasks at the locations such as mixing paint, working behind the counters and stacking produce. Watch Video READING TIME-OUT Nets rookies Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson, and Chris Douglas-Roberts, along with Nets mascot Mini-Sly, hosted a reading time-out with 40 3rd and 4th graders from the Boys & Girls Club of Newark at the NBA Store on August 21, 2008. The players read William is Going Green, which teaches children how to be environmentally conscious. The book is part of the William the Garbage Truck and Crew series that is sponsoring the Nets 'Read to Achieve' program. After the reading time-out, the players signed autographs for fans. NETS AND THE AMERICAN DAIRY ASSOCIATION REFURBISHED TWO BASKETBALL COURTS IN MANHATTAN As part of the Nets and the American Dairy Association's "Get Net Fit" program, the Nets and the American Dairy Association refurbished two basketball courts in Manhattan. Marcus Williams and Sly were on hand to celebrate the court refurbishment at PS 241 on June 16th while Josh Boone, Sly, and the Nets Dancers took part in the unveiling at PS 96 on June 18th. The courts, which included new backboards and a logo reminder to have 3-A-Day of dairy, is part of the Nets and the American Dairy Association's ongoing efforts to promote exercise and good nutrition among kids in the metropolitan area. DEVIN HARRIS HOSTED FITNESS CLINIC A group of first and third graders from Packanack Elementary School in Wayne, NJ won the American Dairy Association's "Go 3-for-3 Challenge" earning the right to take part in a fitness and nutrition clinic run by Nets guard Devin Harris and assistant coach Tom Barrise. Nets mascot Mini-Sly also joined the festivities, which was held Thursday, May 22 at the Nets practice facility, 390 Murray Hill Parkway, from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 pm. Click here to read more AUTISM AWARNESS MONTH As part of Autism Awareness Month, Nets head coach Lawrence Frank conducted a Basketball & Books clinic for a group of children affected with autism from The Alpine Learning Group in Paramus and Theunis Dey Elementary School in Wayne. The kids were treated to the book, William is Going Green, which teaches children how to be environmentally conscious, and is part of the William the Garbage Truck and Crew series that is sponsoring the Nets' 'Read to Achieve' program. After reading to the kids, Lawrence taught them basketball skills with the help of Nets mascot Sly. GET NET FIT Nets players Bostjan Nachbar and Marcus Williams, along with Nets strength and conditioning coach Rich Dalatri, teamed up with the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council on April 2nd to promote health and fitness for 250 students enrolled in the after-school program at PS 34 in Jersey City, NJ. The goal of the event was to encourage good health, nutrition, and fitness among children in the metropolitan area. In addition, Nets mascots Sly and Mini Sly joined Team Hype members and the Nets Dancers in teaching the kids about the importance of fitness and nutrition. Click here to view Photo Gallery NOTHING BUT NETS The Nets and NBA Cares have teamed up with the Nothing But Nets campaign to help prevent malaria in Africa. Every 30 seconds a child dies from a malaria infection. A ten dollar donation to Nothing But Nets provides a life saving bed net to protect children and their families. Join us in this global effort to prevent malaria. DeSagana is donating $100 for every block to the campaign. Click here to dowload the NOTHING BUT NETS form NETS GET IN THE PAINT Nets players Devin Harris and Sean Williams and glacéau vitaminwater teamed up with Boost Mobile RockCorps (BMRC) and the Department of Neighborhood and Recreational Services for the City of Newark on March 25th to refurbish the basketball courts at Jesse Allen Park in Newark, NJ. The players along with Nets mascot Sly, Nets dancers and Nets front office staff worked with BMRC volunteers from Newark to undertake a variety of tasks aimed at improving the park, including installing backboards and rims on the outdoor basketball courts. Volunteers also created murals, painted bleachers, and landscaped throughout the park Watch VideoNETS BASKETBOWL 2008 The Nets bowled for charity at their "Nets Basketbowl" fundraising event on Wednesday Feb. 27, 2008. Click here to view Photo Gallery BLACK HISTORY MONTH ART CONTEST Nets players Vince Carter, Marcus Williams & Josh Boone and representatives from Amtrak pose with the winning students of the Amtrak Black History Month art contest. Students from the Rosa L Parks School of Fine and Performing Art were asked to create a piece of art that relates to the history of African Americans and the railroad system. The players and Amtrak representatives selected the winning pieces. The event is part of the Nets and Amtrak's celebration of Black History Month. Watch Video NETS VISIT MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER Nets players recently spread some cheer when they visited with patients at the Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, NY. On December 27th, Marcus Williams and Josh Boone visited the hospital while Sean Williams made an appearance on January 15th. Nets mascot Sly assisted the players on both visits. |
