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06/28/2008 10:00 AM ET
The Sports Philanthropy Project and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation honor Steve Nash Foundation and Giants Community Fund with awards for excellence in sports philanthropy
The Steve Nash Foundation and MLB's San Francisco Giants Community Fund are recognized for their leadership in sports to create positive change in the lives of others
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NOTE: This press release is from The Sports Philanthropy Project.
MINNEAPOLIS -- June 28, 2008 -- In celebration of the many ways that sports improve people's lives and strengthen communities, The Sports Philanthropy Project (SPP) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today announced that two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash and MLB's San Francisco Giants Community Fund will receive the 2008 Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy.
The awards were presented at the Associated Press Sports Editors' national convention in Minneapolis.
"The Steve Nash Foundation and the Giants Community Fund are two outstanding examples of the impact that can be achieved when you combine the power of sports and social action to help enhance the health and well-being of their communities," said Greg Johnson, SPP executive director. "Sue Peterson at the Giants Community Fund, whom I've had the pleasure of knowing for many years, brings an untold wealth of sensitivity and experience to her work, and Jenny Miller's dedication to meaningful social change through her work at the Steve Nash Foundation is unquestionable. It takes an uncommon level of generosity and commitment to do what we do well, and these two executive directors of their organizations are models of forward-thinking leaders in the field."
"Both of these extraordinary organizations demonstrate the unique opportunity that leaders in sports have to leverage the popularity of their well-known brands to create positive and meaningful change in the lives of others."
About the Winners:
Two-time National Basketball Association MVP and Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash founded The Steve Nash Foundation in 2001. This private athlete foundation focuses its resources on the needs of underserved children in Arizona, British Columbia and Paraguay.
In a short time, their work has been expansive, from equipping a neonatal intensive care ward in Paraguay that provides basic necessities to infants and their families, to developing an early childhood education center of excellence that will improve the quality of education for young kids in Arizona.
The Foundation is also working closely with the City of Toronto, Ontario to establish a citywide, all-kids after-school center to build hope through hoops.
"It is an honor to receive this type of recognition for the work that I care about so deeply," said Nash. "The Steve Nash Foundation is dedicated to assisting underserved children in their health, personal development, education and enjoyment of life. Steve Patterson is the kind of person that always sought out to improve the lives and well being of others and to be awarded in his name is truly an honor. I am humbled by your acknowledgement of our work in the global community. This is just the beginning and we look forward to continuing these efforts and building on the foundation we have established."
For his charitable work through the Foundation, Nash was named to the Time 100 - The People Who Shape Our World list in 2006. For more information on The Steve Nash Foundation, go to www.stevenash.org.
Since 1991, the Giants Community Fund has used baseball as a forum to encourage young people and their families to live healthy, productive lives. During that time, the Fund has donated more than $9.5 million to community efforts and innovative programs that address education, health, violence prevention and youth development.
As one of the first sports philanthropies to develop its own flagship direct service program, Junior Giants, the Giants Community Fund reaches children who would not otherwise have access to organized recreational activities. Now in its 15th year, Junior Giants is a free baseball program that emphasizes self-esteem over statistics and scholarship over scorecards. Each year the program reaches 15,000 girls and boys ages 5-18 living in inner cities and rural suburbs in Central and Northern California, Oregon and Nevada.
Many San Francisco Giants players have given their own time and resources to raising the visibility of Fund programs and public awareness campaigns, such as Until There's A Cure Day for HIV/AIDS education and services, and Strike Out Violence Day.
"As individuals, we know it's an important thing to help our neighbors. As a sports organization, that 'people power' is not only multiplied by the employees and players, but also increased exponentially by the image and reach of the team through fans, sponsors and the league," said Giants Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Larry Baer. "It's a role of service that we take to heart. The Giants Community Fund is immensely proud to be a recipient of The Patterson Award and will carry on our work for children and families in Steve's name."
For more information on the Giants Community Fund, go to www.jrgiants.org.
"We're pleased and honored to present the Patterson Award to these two visionary sports philanthropies," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "The Steve Nash Foundation and Giants Community Fund have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to improving the health and well-being of children and families, underscoring the powerful impact that sports can have in driving social change in communities across the nation, and throughout the world."
About the Award:
The Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy, given annually to a professional sports organization and/or individual athlete philanthropy that demonstrate excellence and leadership in philanthropy, was established in 2005 by the Sports Philanthropy Project and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the largest foundation devoted to health and health care in the United States.
The award was created in memory of Steve Patterson, former UCLA basketball star, NBA player and college coach, and one who believed in and practiced the power of sports philanthropy to make a difference in the lives of others. Patterson died of cancer in July 2004 at the age of 56.
"We're all so proud of the good works and immeasurable dedication of The Steve Nash Foundation and Giants Community Fund, and we're pleased to recognize their work," said Carlette Patterson, President of Patterson Sports Ventures. "Steve spent his life building partnerships on and off the court, and we hope his life and legacy will inspire more and more sports teams and athletes who have the power to create substantial change in their own backyards."
The award includes a $5,000 honorarium to advance the work of each winning organization. Past award recipients have included the Philadelphia Eagles Youth Partnership (2005), Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation (2006), Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation (2007) and The Moyer Foundation (2007). More information is available online at www.sportsphilanthropy.com/patterson.
The 2008 Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy is presented with the generous support and sponsorship of the Arizona Cardinals. For more information on the Cardinals' charitable efforts, please visit their website at www.azcardinals.com/community/charities.php.
About The Sports Philanthropy Project (SPP)
The Sports Philanthropy Project (SPP) harnesses the power of sports to help build sustained and comprehensive social programs and services throughout the United States and Canada. SPP services include building partnerships with corporations and foundations; program development for teams and athletes; and building the field of sports philanthropy by providing professional development opportunities, research and best practices for professionals in the field. SPP was launched in 1998 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. For more information, visit www.sportsphilanthropy.com.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful, and timely change. For more than 35 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.
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