PISTONS: Detroit Pistons, WDIV-TV4 and Art Van Organize Rescue 4 Hurricaid: Flight of Champions

Mass Collection Effort to Supply Salvation Army with Goods for Hurricane Katrina Victims; Pistons Team Plane to Deliver Goods to Gulf Region on Tuesday, September 20

Detroit Pistons, WDIV-TV4 and Art Van Organize Rescue 4 Hurricaid: Flight of Champions

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment (PS&E) along with WDIV Local 4 and Art Van Furniture are organizing a mass collection effort to supply the Salvation Army in the Gulf Region with goods for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The Rescue 4 Hurricaid: Flight of Champions Project will begin Monday, September 12 at 10:00 a.m. with donation centers set up in the main entrance of all 30 Art Van Furniture locations in Michigan (visit www.artvan.com). Art Van locations will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every day during the project. The last day to donate items will be Saturday, September 17 before 9:00 p.m.

On Tuesday, September 20 members of the PS&E family, including Pistons guard Lindsey Hunter, Detroit Shock forward Barbara Farris and PS&E President and CEO Tom Wilson, along with representatives from WDIV and Art Van Furniture, will load the collected items onto Roundball One, the Pistons team plane, and fly the goods down to Salvation Army distribution centers in Biloxi, MS and Baton Rouge, LA.

“Everyone, regardless of where you live or what you do for a living, has been affected by the devastation caused by Katrina,” said Wilson. “It has hit very close to home for some of our players and staff, including Joe (Dumars), Barb, Lindsey, Antonio (McDyess), Ron (Dupree), Cheryl (Ford) and Elaine (Powell), who grew up in the area, went to school down there or still have family down there. As teammates, all of our players, Pistons and Shock, were affected and are getting involved. As an organization and with great partners like WDIV and Art Van, we want to use our resources to get supplies down to those people. We have challenged our staff and we challenge the great people of Michigan to help us in this effort by making a donation. Our plane will carry up to 10 tons of cargo and we want it filled when we leave on September 20th.”

Collection sites will accept the tangible items listed below:

Non-perishable food items

Baby items, diapers, wipes, formula

Hygiene (male and female) items

Toiletries

Towels

Paper plates, cups and napkins

Plastic forks, spoons and knives

Buckets, mops, brooms, scrub brushes, bleach

First aid kits and bandages

Trash bags (large, heavy duty)

Generators and extension cords

Cots, blankets, pillows

Insect repellent (w/ DEET)

WDIV and the Pistons will be producing several Public Service Announcements that will run during the project, urging Michiganders to get involved. For more information regarding the Rescue 4 Hurricaid: Flight of Champions Project, please contact the Detroit Pistons at 248-377-0100 or www.pistons.com or contact WDIV at 313-222-0504 or www.clickondetroit.com.

Pistons Guard Lindsey Hunter: “We felt it was necessary to take some action and really come together to show those affected by this disaster that we care. The lives of so many people have been devastated and this is just our way of helping in whatever way we can. Hopefully our efforts will help to provide for some of the many people in need down there.”

Devin Scillian:"I think we’ve all been very moved and very touched by what we’ve seen on TV and in the papers in the last two weeks. I think everybody has felt the pull to do something to matter somehow. I think it’s one of the great hallmarks of America. To find a really substance in a big way to help out, we’re thrilled at Channel 4 to partner with the Pistons in this.”

Carmen Harlan: “In times of need, Detroiters have very big hearts. The Pistons are just one branch of this wonderful family here in Detroit and certainly, when we found out that the need was so real and devastating in Louisiana, this is just one way for us to come together to help those who really need it.”