MIAMI – As part of its ongoing commitment to improving the South Florida community, Miami HEAT players Shane Battier and James Jones joined a host of dignitaries to unveil the renovation of its 11th HEAT Learn & Play Center at Chapman Partnership located at 1550 North Miami Avenue on March 11th. Alongside presenting sponsor and longtime HEAT community partner Florida Blue, the HEAT renovated the Family Resource Center at Chapman Partnership, enhancing the room with new paint, wall graphics, Apple iPad minis and furniture.
A press conference hosted by HEAT Television Host & Courtside Reporter, Jason Jackson kicked off the event followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Nick Arison, Chief Executive Officer of the HEAT Group, Eric Woolworth, President of Business Operations of the HEAT Group, Penny Shaffer, South Florida Market President of Florida Blue, and Trish Bell, Chairman of the Board at Chapman Partnership, joined Battier and Jones at the unveiling of the new HEAT Learn & Play Center.
Afterward, HEAT players, HEAT executives, sponsors, HEAT dancers and our very own Burnie interacted with the resident children from Chapman Partnership in the new HEAT Learn & Play Center. The unveiling of this Learn & Play Center is the latest activity from the Miami HEAT under the “NBA Cares” initiative. The 10 other existing HEAT Learn & Play Centers are located at:
- HEAT Academy at Little River Elementary (2006)
- Community Partnership for Homeless (2007)
- HEAT Academy at Riverside Elementary (2007)
- Bucky Dent Gymnasium (2008)
- His House Children’s Home (2009)
- Miami Rescue Mission (2010)
- Grapeland Park Recreational Building (2011)
- HEAT Academy at Dunbar Elementary (2011)
- Shake-A-Leg Miami(2012)
- Miami Springs Community Center (2012)