INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers, in conjunction with the NBA, are active participants in the league’s Dream BIG program, a multifaceted project established to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Black History Month.
The program is authentically steeped into NBA and African-American history and its multiple facets give the program the ability to break through the clutter and make a significant statement about the importance of African-American contributions throughout our country’s history. The Dream BIG philosophy is about daring to think beyond your current circumstance. It starts with an individual choosing to make a change – but depending on the size of the dream; the outcome can benefit the individual or the world.
The Pacers tipped off their activities in January as employees of the Pacers and WILD FIRE partnered to help students from Cold Spring Elementary School learn the positive message of love and courage through a presentation based on Martin Luther King, Jr.
The team has also worked with Herff Jones to provide a $5,000 college scholarship to a worthy student from the state of Indiana. Herff Jones, the Indianapolis-based company world renown for distribution and manufacturing of educational projects for over 90 years, wants to recognize students who excel in leadership. Applications are now being accepted at Pacers.com through Feb. 28
At Saturday’s Pacers/Sacramento game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers team ophthalmologist Dr. John Abrams will present the Abrams Academic Achievement Awards for the 14th year. The awards were established to recognize area elementary and/or middle school students for their academic and leadership performance in school. This year’s award winners include: Elliot Harter, Independence Academy; Sajjad Taher, Northwest Community HS; Nijel Pack, Belzer Middle; Kelsea Fry, Speedway Junior HS; Dorian Jones, Speedway Junior HS; Alainna Tuyub, Brookside School #54; Connor Sutton, Wea Ridge Middle; Erik Romo, Center for Inquiry #27; and Brian Williams, Lynhurst 7th/8th Grade Center.
For the month of February, each day on Pacers.com and in arena at games the Pacers will be posting “This Day in Black History” facts. The facts will be distributed through video and audio form via Pacers players.