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Harrison Barnes Earns Inaugural Alvin Attles Community Impact Award

April 27, 2014
Harrison Barnes Earns Inaugural Alvin Attles Community Impact Award

Warriors Community Foundation To Donate $15,000 In Barnes’ Honor To The Boys & Girls Clubs Of Oakland

Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes received the inaugural Alvin Attles Community Impact Award in recognition of his efforts to make a positive impact on the lives of underserved youth in the Bay Area, it was announced today. The annual award, named in Warriors Legend Alvin Attles’ honor, celebrates his commitment and dedication to the community and recognizes a current Warriors player who goes above and beyond to support underprivileged youth in the Bay Area. The Warriors Community Foundation is honoring Barnes for his continued commitment to giving back to those in need in the Bay Area by donating $15,000 on Barnes’ behalf to the charity of his choice, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oakland, to support their mission of providing safe places and life-enhancing programs for local kids.

“It’s a huge honor to be presented with this award,” Barnes said. “Throughout the season I’ve tried to connect with our great fans and give back to the community. Giving back to the community is something I’ve always believed in so to receive this accolade in the name of a Warriors legend means a lot to me, and I’m glad I am able to help out the Bay Area.”

Barnes went above and beyond during the 2013-14 season to help give back to youth in need in the Bay Area. Throughout the season, Harrison continued his partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America through his Tickets for Education program which allows 15 youth from local branches of the Boys & Girls Clubs to attend a Warriors home game during the season. In total, Harrison donated over 600 tickets to Boys & Girls Club youth in the Bay Area. In addition, Harrison took part in a variety of additional events to help youth in the Bay Area including partnering with 3D printing company MakerBot and President Obama’s 3D Printing Institute, America Makes, to donate a 3D printer to Oakland High School; participated alongside Warriors and Esurance staff and fans to beautify Golden Gate Park as part of a WE G.I.V.E. volunteer event; fulfilled the dream of a Make-A-Wish youth named Cole by hosting him and his family to a Warriors game, playing Cole in NBA 2K14 and taking the family to dinner in San Francisco; continued his Holidays with Harrison program where 15 deserving and in-need youth had the opportunity to go on a $250 shopping spree with Harrison at the adidas Store in San Francisco; purchased two season tickets for lucky fans at the beginning of the season; took time out during his pre-game routine to sign autographs for fans and bring youth on the court for the National Anthem; presented children with gifts prior to multiple games and signed autographs and gave away jerseys to fans after the game.

Warriors Legend Alvin Attles is in his sixth decade with the franchise, having served tirelessly as a player, coach, executive and civic leader. Attles’ current stint with the same team represents the longest active streak in the NBA. Attles is one of only six players in Warriors history to have his jersey retired (#16) and remains one of the most publicly recognizable sports figures in the Bay Area. His endless contributions locally as a player, executive and civic leader resulted in his much-deserved induction into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. Additionally, in the summer of 2006, the newly refurbished outdoor basketball court at Lincoln Square Park in downtown Oakland was permanently named “Alvin Attles Court” in honor of the local legend and longtime Oakland resident. In the latter stages of the 1969-70 NBA campaign, Attles was named head coach of the Warriors, where his 30-game stint as head coach to end that season proved to be the start of the longest head coaching run in Warriors franchise history, a 13-plus year tenure which produced, among other highlights, the lone NBA Championship in the club’s West Coast history (1974-75). Attles completed his coaching career in 1982-83 to become the Warriors GM, heading the team’s basketball operations for three years.

About the Warriors Community Foundation
The Warriors Community Foundation is dedicated to making a significant and lasting impact on the lives of underserved youth in the San Francisco Bay Area. Specifically, the Foundation strives to improve educational outcomes among children in Alameda and San Francisco Counties. Established in 2012 under the new Lacob and Guber ownership group, the Foundation extends the team’s impact locally and continues a longstanding tradition of community involvement. It is sustained by generous contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners.