The activity, a partnership between the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center and the Wizards, forms part of a fundraising effort for the Youth Violence Awareness Campaign.

“We simply can not allow violence to continue to steal our most valuable resource – our children,” said CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding. “We continue to learn what works to help stop violence like helping our children learn to talk through their feelings as well as by learning to respect themselves and others. Partnerships, like the one CDC is joining with the Washington Wizards and the Pan-American Health Organization, will go a long way to help all our children realize their dream of growing up in a safe and healthy world.”

PAHO and the Wizards partnered during the 2005 NBA season to launch "Health Awareness Game Nights," initiatives to raise local, national and international community awareness on diverse public health issues, such as healthy environments for children, youth violence and this year's World Health Day theme, maternal and child health.

Special public service announcements that focus on halting youth violence, featuring Wizards team members, local youth, and U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, will be shown during the game at the MCI Center and on television.

The Wizards are extending a special offer for fans who would like to contribute to this initiative and check out one of the Eastern Conference's hottest teams. On Feb. 9, ten dollars from every ticket specially ordered will be donated to the Pan American Health and Education Foundation for youth violence prevention.

PAHO and the Wizards agreed to use basketball as a platform to engender health promotion and healthy living habits in our communities as a part of everyday living. Based in Washington, D.C, PAHO made the natural choice of joining forces with the Wizards to promote the message of daily health awareness. This initiative began December 15, with a game dedicated to healthy environments for children, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

In addition to the youth violence awareness night Feb. 9, the April 9 Wizards game will focus on the 2005 World Health Day theme, Maternal and Child Health.

"PAHO and the Wizards wanted to use basketball as a platform to engender the health prevention and healthy living habit in our communities as a part of every day living. Based in Washington, PAHO made the natural choice of joining forces with the Wizards to promote the message of health awareness each day," according to an announcement by the Wizards' office.

PAHO is the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO). It was established in 1902 and is the world's oldest public health organization. PAHO works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and the quality of life of people of the Americas.

PAHO Member States today include all 35 countries in the Americas. France, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are Participating States. Portugal and Spain are Observer States, and Puerto Rico is an Associate Member.

For more information visit www.paho.org