Although he isn’t participating in any if the on-court events at the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas is joining other league stars there in assisting the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Thomas, a native of Louisiana, will be hos
Thomas will be headlining a star-studded line-up of NBA stars that have joined forces for the charity event with all proceeds going to the Tyrus Thomas Foundation and to rebuilding recreational centers in the communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The Tyrus Thomas Foundation (TTF) was officially launched in 2007.
Last summer, the foundation held a celebrity golf tournament in Thomas’ hometown of Baton Rouge with proceeds benefiting the Baton Rouge Area Foundation efforts. After entering the NBA, Thomas made it a priority to establish his foundation to reach inner-city youth. The Tyrus Thomas Foundation exists to nurture the development of leadership, scholarship, service and health of at-risk youth through exposure to cultural activities that will broaden their intellectual horizons, academic strategies and educational competency, as well as promote healthy lives through physical activities.
Meanwhile, _before he takes to the basketball court at New Orleans Arena for the NBA All- Star Game, superstar Tim Duncan will help unveil a new one. The court refurbishment and dedication at the Mahalia Jackson School in Central City was among the plans the NBA announced for its ”All-Star Day of Service”. NBA Players will take part in 10 projects throughout the city, ranging from the rebuilding of homes to the construction of playgrounds. The league expects more than 2,500 people in town for the weekend to participate in one of the community efforts.
”This is a standard operating procedure for us. It’s who we are and what we do,” NBAS commissioner David Stern said. ”We’re doing it a little bit more in New Orleans for a couple of reasons, but the most important of which in some way is to demonstrate how the city is in fact coming back.” It’s the largest yet in a number of efforts the NBA has made to aid the city’s recovery. Stern announced New Orleans would.
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