The High School Basketball Community Challenge is an innovative program that provides Oklahoma high school basketball coaches and their teams an opportunity to serve the community, build their team and compete for Thunder prizes – including a Thunder-themed experience at the winning schools.
Community involvement has always been a high priority for the Thunder, and we continually seek ways to involve both ourselves and our fans in extending our reach for community service. Because high school basketball coaches inspire teamwork, leadership and a love for the game, we call on these coaches to set an example of service that can last for a lifetime.
Taking part in this challenge is simple – all it takes is a few members of your high school basketball team, a few hours and a good cause. In fact, we know that many schools already take on service projects and do wonderful work in the community. Any service – even if it is part of an existing service project or program – counts toward the Thunder’s challenge.
Here are the guidelines for how to participate in the Community Challenge program:
- Select community projects to be involved with between now and Sept. 30, 2012. Teams aren’t limited to one project.
- Keep track of the number of team members participating and the number of hours they volunteer. (Number of team members x number of project hours = total volunteer hours)
- Submit the Community Challenge entry form (available here) via email to hschallenge@thunder-nba.com or mail to the address at the bottom of the form.
After the challenge deadline, a panel of judges will select one boys basketball team and one girls team who have made the greatest impact on their community to receive a Thunder-themed experience at a home game, including Thunder game-night music, player introductions, game video analysis and appearances by Rumble and the Thunder Girls.
Keep in mind that any team reporting at least 25 service hours will receive Thunder prizes.
If you have any questions, contact Community Relations Director Christine Berney at 405.208.4710 or cberney@thunder-nba.com.
If you need some service ideas, here are 10 to get you started:
- Sort and box donations for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma or the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma
- Organize a clean-up day with a neighborhood park
- Volunteer at a blood drive with the Oklahoma Blood Institute
- Find partner agencies who need volunteers through your local United Way
- Start a food drive, coat drive or toy drive during the holiday season
- Help your local Boys & Girls Club put on an upcoming event
- Volunteer for a project with one of your players’ churches
- Transform the home of a local senior with Rebuilding Together
- Organize a time to read to elementary-school children in your school district
- Be the eyes for a visually-impaired person by volunteering with NewView Oklahoma
You can even help the Thunder carry out our own community outreach programs by assisting kids in picking out books on the Rolling Thunder Book Bus, presented by American Fidelity Assurance Company, or running a skills-and-drills session at a Thunder Fit Clinic during the school year; please contact us for more information on opportunities to work with the Thunder.
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