SFX BASKETBALL STARS JOIN TOGETHER FOR A SHOOT-A-THON TO HELP TSUNAMI AND EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
-- SFX Basketball Players Including 2004 All-Stars Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and Jermaine O'Neal to Donate $1,000 for Each
Point They Score in Games; Funds Will go to UNICEF's South Asia Emergency Relief Efforts --
Los Angeles – SFX Sports Agency announced today that a group of its basketball stars have joined together for an SFX Basketball
Shoot-a-Thon to benefit UNICEF, an organization that has been working around the clock to help the smallest survivors of the
tsunamis in south Asia. In addition to donating $1,000 for every point they score in a game this week, the athletes hope to
encourage their fans to do whatever they can to help out the 1.5 million children affected by the disaster.
Jermaine O'Neal said, "Everyday on the news I see the faces of injured children, kids who have lost their families and their
homes. Although, we are far away, our thoughts are with all of those who have suffered. The Shoot-a-Thon is our way of helping
UNICEF continue their good work."
The SFX Sports basketball players participating in the Shoot-a-Thon include:
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (vs. Houston on Friday, January 7) Pau Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies (vs. New Orleans on Friday,
January 7) Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets (vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Friday January 7) Mike Miller, Memphis Grizzlies (vs. New
Orleans on Friday, January 7) Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Pacers (vs. San Antonio on Thursday, January 6) Jalen Rose, Toronto
Raptors (vs. Milwaukee on Friday, January 7) Bobby Sura, Houston Rockets (vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, January 7)
"This act of giving by these generous players will encourage more public support and result in more children being helped," said
Charles J. Lyons, president of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "UNICEF is focused on keeping the smallest survivors of the tsunamis
alive, and we are grateful to these players for their contributions and continued support."
Arn Tellem, CEO of SFX Sports added, "All of us are saddened by the suffering in south Asia. The monumental task of aiding
those stricken and rebuilding their homes and lives is one that calls for the participation of all of us who are able to give. Our
athletes hope that, by their example, others will realize how great the need is and will give generously."
The four relief priorities that UNICEF said all players in the relief effort should emphasize include:
First, the relief effort must focus on keeping children alive. This means clean water, adequate sanitation, basic nutrition, and
routine medical care. These are basics that cannot be over emphasized. Keeping children who survived the floods alive and
healthy is UNICEF's priority.
Second, caring for separated children. UNICEF's relief plans give high priority to finding children who've lost their families,
identifying them, and reuniting them with their extended families and communities. UNICEF is involved in efforts to register and
care for unaccompanied children in every country.
Third, UNICEF's efforts must ensure that children are protected from exploitation. In tumultuous environments like those in the
tsunami zone – where families are broken apart, incomes are lost, and hope is in short supply – children are more vulnerable to
abuses.
Fourth, UNICEF said the relief efforts must help children cope with their trauma by getting them back in school as quickly as
possible and train adults who interact with children – such as teachers and health workers – to spot the signs of severe trauma.
Schools have been damaged and destroyed in every tsunami country, with ongoing assessments to survey where and when
learning can be re-established. "Being in a learning environment gives children something positive to focus on, and enables the
adults around them to go about the business of rebuilding with greater
-- SFX Basketball Players Including 2004 All-Stars Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and Jermaine O'Neal to Donate $1,000 for Each
Point They Score in Games; Funds Will go to UNICEF's South Asia Emergency Relief Efforts --
Los Angeles – SFX Sports Agency announced today that a group of its basketball stars have joined together for an SFX Basketball
Shoot-a-Thon to benefit UNICEF, an organization that has been working around the clock to help the smallest survivors of the
tsunamis in south Asia. In addition to donating $1,000 for every point they score in a game this week, the athletes hope to
encourage their fans to do whatever they can to help out the 1.5 million children affected by the disaster.
Jermaine O'Neal said, "Everyday on the news I see the faces of injured children, kids who have lost their families and their
homes. Although, we are far away, our thoughts are with all of those who have suffered. The Shoot-a-Thon is our way of helping
UNICEF continue their good work."
The SFX Sports basketball players participating in the Shoot-a-Thon include:
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (vs. Houston on Friday, January 7) Pau Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies (vs. New Orleans on Friday,
January 7) Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets (vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Friday January 7) Mike Miller, Memphis Grizzlies (vs. New
Orleans on Friday, January 7) Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Pacers (vs. San Antonio on Thursday, January 6) Jalen Rose, Toronto
Raptors (vs. Milwaukee on Friday, January 7) Bobby Sura, Houston Rockets (vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, January 7)
"This act of giving by these generous players will encourage more public support and result in more children being helped," said
Charles J. Lyons, president of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "UNICEF is focused on keeping the smallest survivors of the tsunamis
alive, and we are grateful to these players for their contributions and continued support."
Arn Tellem, CEO of SFX Sports added, "All of us are saddened by the suffering in south Asia. The monumental task of aiding
those stricken and rebuilding their homes and lives is one that calls for the participation of all of us who are able to give. Our
athletes hope that, by their example, others will realize how great the need is and will give generously."
The four relief priorities that UNICEF said all players in the relief effort should emphasize include:
First, the relief effort must focus on keeping children alive. This means clean water, adequate sanitation, basic nutrition, and
routine medical care. These are basics that cannot be over emphasized. Keeping children who survived the floods alive and
healthy is UNICEF's priority.
Second, caring for separated children. UNICEF's relief plans give high priority to finding children who've lost their families,
identifying them, and reuniting them with their extended families and communities. UNICEF is involved in efforts to register and
care for unaccompanied children in every country.
Third, UNICEF's efforts must ensure that children are protected from exploitation. In tumultuous environments like those in the
tsunami zone – where families are broken apart, incomes are lost, and hope is in short supply – children are more vulnerable to
abuses.
Fourth, UNICEF said the relief efforts must help children cope with their trauma by getting them back in school as quickly as
possible and train adults who interact with children – such as teachers and health workers – to spot the signs of severe trauma.
Schools have been damaged and destroyed in every tsunami country, with ongoing assessments to survey where and when
learning can be re-established. "Being in a learning environment gives children something positive to focus on, and enables the
adults around them to go about the business of rebuilding with greater
| Welcome to The Jalen Rose Foundation at The Giving Back Fund |