Etan Thomas and Nate Rivera Nikki Teasley joined by Nate Rivera and other calendar contest winners Rafael Suanes/NBAE/Getty Images

Prior to this weekend, Nate Rivera had never visited Washington, D.C. nor had the chance to meet a pair of professional basketball players. But that all changed on Friday when Rivera and his mother, Mayeline, and brother, Fabian, arrived in Washington for the 12th Annual "Kid"ney Kids Weekend. Hosted by the American Kidney Funds (AKF), Rivera and 11 other children with kidney disease, along with their families, were invited to spend three days in Washington, D.C. The children were rewarded a trip to the nation's capital after their respective art work was selected for the American Kidney Fund's 2008 "Kid"ney Calendar.

The exciting weekend kicked off with a visit from Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas and Washington Mystics guard Nikki Teasley, who joined the children at the "getting to know you" social on Friday night in Arlington, Virginia. Teasley, Thomas, and his wife, Nichole, spent time with the children socializing and working on various arts and craft projects.

"We just wanted to be here tonight and share and visit with the young people and interact with their families," Thomas said." They (children) are just looking for interaction...but that is all that young kids really want, especially in this situation - knowing that somebody really cares."

Teasley, who is a native of Washington, D.C., was equally excited to share the evening with these young children and their families. Teasley openly admitted during her introduction that she was going to need the assistance of these talented students. "It is wonderful to be a part of this weekend and I am happy to be here, and I am ready to get started. But I must admit, I need your help because I am terrible at art," she quipped.

Arts and crafts is an activity that these children, who range in age from 7-18, excel at and enjoy. Tamara Ruggiero, managing director of public affairs of the American Kidney Fund, said that three-day tour for the children and families, will also include a bus tour of Washington, D.C., photo opportunities in front of the White House and the United States Capitol building, and an awards ceremony on Sunday to conclude the exciting weekend.

"I am really looking forward to this weekend," said Rivera, who lives in Springfield, Missouri and whose drawing "Caribbean Sunset" will be featured in the afformentioned "Kid"ney Calendar for the month of August. "I have never been to Washington, D.C. and everybody here has been really nice to me and my family."

Thomas and Teasley participated in this program through NBA Cares - a league initiative which works with internationally-recognized youth-serving programs that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

The American Kidney Fund (AKF) provides direct financial asisstance to kidney patients in need and education for those with at risk for kidney disease. Established in 1971, the AKF is the nation's #1 source of financial assistance to kidney patients. Last year, they provided financial assistance to nearly one out of every five dialysis patients in the Unites States, distributing $81.9 million in grants to 63,500 patients.

If you would like to learn more about AKF, please contact them at 800-638-8299.

KEY FACTS
WHY:	Today in the United States, there are about 2,300 children who are on dialysis, and another 4,900 who are living with kidney transplants. The American Kidney Fund is the nation's No. 1 source of direct financial assistance to kidney patients and a health education leader for those with and at risk for kidney disease. NBA Cares is the league's social responsibility initiative that builds on the NBA's long tradition of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world. Through this umbrella program, the NBA, its teams and players have committed to donating $100 million to charity, providing a million hours of hands on service to the community and creating 250 places where kids and families can live, learn or play. NBA Cares works with internationally-recognized youth-serving programs that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.
WHEN:	Friday, September 14 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. EST* *Thomas and Teasley are available from 7:30-8:30.
WHERE:	Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport 1999 Jefferson Davis Highway Arlington, Virginia 22202 USA Monticello Ballroom, Salons A-B
WHO:	Etan Thomas #36 with the Washington Wizards Nikki Teasley #42 with the Washington Mystics Michael Spigler, Director of Public Education for the American Kidney Fund

301-785-3084 (cell—use this number after 3 pm Friday)