Suns Community Relations Programs
EDUCATION
Suns Nite Hoops
Suns Nite Hoops is an educational, job advancement and recreational program for young, at-risk adults. At no cost to them, men ages 18-25 play in an organized basketball league two nights each week. The idea is to give them a positive alternative to drugs, gangs and violence. However, the program was established with the pre-game workshops, case management and job opportunities as its priority, not basketball. As such, 45 minutes prior to each game, participants are required to attend 45 minute educational workshops on location where they meet with workshop facilitators to discuss important issues such as improving their education and learning personal development skills. Job skills and opportunities are also addressed. Nite Hoops also has two case managers who assist each participant develop and achieve personal goals.
RECREATION
Suns Alumni Summer Youth Basketball Camps
For the 10th summer, the Suns invited more than 1,500 Valley youths into the US Airways Center to participate in the Suns Alumni Summer Youth Basketball Camps. Suns legends Connie Hawkins, Alvan Adams, Mark West, Tim Kempton and broadcaster Tom Leander managed the camps at the Arena Practice Court. With assistance from the City of Phoenix Housing Department, the Suns invited kids ages 6-15 living in state-wide housing projects to attend the daily activities. The free camps included basketball drills and games, special appearances and anti tobacco presentations. The Suns distributed T-shirts and other gifts to each child.
Banner Wheelchair Suns Basketball
Sponsored by Southwest Airlines, Banner Health System, the Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association, the Paralyzed Veterans Association and the Suns, the Banner Wheelchair Suns completed its 12th season in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. In addition to league play, the team manages a community service program in which team members encourage safe driving. Program components include TV public service announcements, posters and school assemblies, each of which feature a personal story from a team member who tells how he was injured in a car accident and what could be done to prevent such accidents.
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Hospital Visits
In hopes of bringing a smile to a sick child or a bed-ridden veteran's face, current and former Suns players regularly visit various hospitals including Banner Children's Hospital, Maricopa Medical Center and the Arizona Veteran's Hospital. While visiting their sick fans, the players also leave behind various gifts including team memorabilia, hats, posters and shirts. And through the Make-A-Wish Foundation and other similar organizations, terminally ill children and adults are provided their wish to see a Suns game and/or meet a Suns player.
The Gorilla Makes the Rounds
Representing the Phoenix Suns is no monkey business. Just ask the Suns' lovable mascot, The Gorilla. Last season, the Gorilla made more than 150 community appearances, spreading goodwill to young and old alike.
DONATIONS
Charitable Donations
Through Phoenix Suns Charities and Suns corporate donations, the franchise donated more than $2 million in cash, tickets and merchandise to Arizona charities last season. Suns Charities also has a scholarship program, SunStudents College Scholarship, which awarded 10 Arizona high school seniors $1,000 each to be used for their college education.
Suns Employee Fund Raising & Charity Involvement
Phoenix Suns players aren't the only ones who get into the game; Suns staff also participated in a number of charitable efforts last season. The most significant staff commitment involved supporting the annual fund-raising campaign for the Valley of the Sun United Way. As former chairman of the county-wide campaign, Suns CEO Jerry Colangelo appropriated significant financial and in-kind resources to the United Way. Under Colangelo's leadership, Suns and US Airways Center employees donated countless hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars to the United Way.
Ticket Donations
For the past 14 years, the Suns have annually donated more than 13,000 complimentary tickets to approximately 350 Arizona elementary and middle schools through Quest for Quality. Sponsored by APS and Phelps Dodge, the program enables Arizona schools to apply for an allotment of tickets. Each school distributes tickets to students who they feel are most deserving. 0ne student from each school has his/her picture taken with a Suns player on the court during half-time, and every student receives a certificate of achievement. Suns tickets are also donated through Suns Charities Seats. Charities Seats is a program in which season ticket holders who are unable to attend a game can donate their ticket to Phoenix Suns Charities, which then re-distributes those tickets to worthy children's organizations.
Although this doesn't tell the whole story, we hope it will provide you with a general sense of our efforts. If you have any questions or comments regarding any of our community relations programs, please feel free to contact Chris Mallory, Director of Community Relations at (602) 379-7964.
