Suns Nite Hoops
Suns Nite Hoops is an educational, job placement and recreational
program for young, troubled adults (80 percent of the participants
are referred by the Maricopa County Probation Office). At no cost
to them, men ages 18-25 play in an organized basketball league two
nights each week from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. year round - prime time
for crime. The idea is to give them a positive alternative to
drugs, gangs and violence.
With former NBA player Steve Colter as its executive director,
Suns Nite Hoops offers the finest in basketball league amenities,
including quality basketball gyms, referees, coaches, uniforms and
other equipment. In addition to league play, other special events
take place throughout the year, such as a three-point contest and
2Ball contest, which take place during halftime of selected Suns
games. However, Suns Nite Hoops was created for reasons other than
just basketball. The program was established with the pregame
workshops, case management and job opportunities as its priority,
not basketball.
As such, one hour prior to each game, participants are required
to attend 45-minute educational workshops on-location. The
mandatory pregame workshops are presented by NCTI, a national
training and education company contracted by Suns Nite Hoops.
Pregame workshops are conducted in an interactive format that
includes small group discussion, role playing, brainstorming and
skill development exercises. Participants meet with workshop
facilitators to discuss important issues such as improving their
education and learning personal development skills (i.e. conflict
resolution, job interviewing and parenting skills).
Suns Nite Hoops also has two full-time case managers on staff
whose primary responsibility is to assist each participant develop
and achieve personal goals. For example, at the beginning of the
season, a program participant might set a goal of getting a job.
The case manager would help define the various jobs the participant
is qualified for and then would advise and assist the participant
in getting one of those jobs. Another participant's goal might be
to get his G.E.D. The case manager would advise the participant on
how to get his G.E.D., including taking a preparatory course and
determining when and where G.E.D. tests are administered.
"Suns Nite Hoops is not a farm system for potential college or
NBA players," said Suns CEO and Suns Nite Hoops Honorary Chairman
Jerry Colangelo. "It is a program that leverages the popularity of
basketball to encourage positive behavior among young men who need
goals and structure in their lives. The basketball side of the
program includes many bells and whistles, but it definitely takes a
back seat to the educational workshops, scholarships and employment
opportunities. We're hopeful that Nite Hoops will help set these
men on a path to become productive, contributing members of
society."
Book the Gorilla
Once again, the Phoenix Suns Gorilla joined Apple Computers to
promote the importance of reading and creative writing to Valley
students through the Book the Gorilla Contest. Book the Gorilla is
a program in which children in grades K-4 as a group project write
an action-packed story about the Gorilla featuring a positive
message. Upon selecting the winning entry, the Gorilla brings the
book with him as he visits children throughout the year. At each
visit, the Gorilla puts on a show by performing the actions
described in the book as it is read to the children.
Last season, The Golden Guse’s from Granada East School in Phoenix was this past seasons winning book. The book was titled “One Smart Gorilla” and was a joy to share with all the students The Gorilla visited this past season.
For their efforts, the students were invited to attend a Suns game
and were awarded a pizza party and a new Apple Computer. And as an
added bonus, the Gorilla put on a premiere performance of the book
for the students.
Arizona Educators
Considered by many as the MVP's of the community, teachers are
arguably the greatest contributors to society. And for the
significant impact they make on everyone's lives, the Suns took
time out to honor these outstanding individuals last season through
Arizona Educators.