PHOENIX SUNS SINCE OUR INCEPTION in 1968, the PHOENIX SUNS Is an Organization Deeply Rooted in Excelling Both on and Off the Court
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2014 COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORT PHOENIX SUNS SINCE OUR INCEPTION IN 1968, THE PHOENIX SUNS is an organization deeply rooted in excelling both on and off the court. As a professional sports franchise, we recognize it is our responsibility to be a leader in serving Arizona’s communities. That commitment is an important pillar of our mission statement, where our goal is to offer the finest in sports, entertainment and community leadership. LOOKING BACK AT THE 2013–2014 NBA SEASON, we take great pride in our accomplishments. Our community efforts continued to include highlighting our nation’s military through the Salute to Service program. The Suns also created a Holiday Cards for Troops initiative where our fans wrote holiday cards to active duty personnel stationed overseas during the holiday season. In addition, we achieved an NBA milestone by becoming the first U.S.-based NBA team to coordinate outreach inter- nationally, when we hosted a basketball clinic and visited children in need in Nogales, Mexico. THROUGH THE COMBINED EFFORTS of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Suns Charities, funding is provided to hundreds of local organizations that assist the needs of children and their families in Arizona. Led by a board of community-minded business partners and paired with Suns employees, grants are awarded in the area of education, including college scholarships, human services, recreation, health, food, clothing and the arts. More than $1 million is raised and donated annually through our gala, The Jump Ball, Suns Charities 88, a group of business professionals, and the philanthropic energy of our owners, marketing partners and fans. OUR MOST AMBITIOUS PROJECT is our SunsCentral program at Central High School. In its third year, SunsCentral has led to a dramatic improvement in academic performance and has significantly improved the rates for over one-third of all students at Central High School. Phoenix Suns Charities is privileged to be one of the many ways the Phoenix Suns have put our promise to serve our community into action. OUR SUPPORT FOR NON-PROFITS funded by Suns Charities extends beyond monetary contributions. Suns players sought out Arizona organizations with causes close to their heart, including work by Markieff and Marcus Morris with Helping Hands for Single Moms, Gerald Green’s anti-bullying message in support of Playworks Arizona, and multiple hospital visits by Suns players throughout the season. THROUGH MORE THAN $300,000 in donation items, 800 appearances by our players, alumni and mascot, $50,000 in Suns tickets donated by our players to local schools, non-profits and community organizations, and 1,700 volunteer hours from our staff, we continue to show our support for the community that welcomed us as Arizona’s first professional sports team. All of these aforementioned efforts would also not be possible without the support of the NBA’s best fans. They are the backbone of our team and have an invaluable impact on our ability to share these resources with our community. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to Arizona’s youth. We hope you enjoy the following pages which highlight the impact our players, coaches and the Suns organization had in our community this past season. Rest assured that the Phoenix Suns will continue to provide Arizona’s communities with the same support for years to come. Robert Sarver Jason C. Rowley Suns Managing Partner President, Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury OVER | 1 250 ALUMNI $700,000 COMMUNITY VISITS IN PHOENIX SUNS CHARITIES GRANTS GIVEN OVER NEARLY 2,500 16,000 HOLIDAY CARDS SENT TO $300,000 YOUTH STAYING FIT WITH IN DONATION ITEMS TROOPS OVERSEAS JR. SUNS BASKETBALL PROGRAM PLAYER APPEARANCES $50,000 188 1,700 WORTH OF VOLUNTEER SUNS TICKETS HOURS FROM DONATED $60,000 OUR STAFF BY OUR PLAYERS IN PHOENIX SUNS OVER CHARITIES SCHOLARSHIPS OVER 350 GORILLA 1,500 COMMUNITY DONATIONS TO APPEARANCES ARIZONA CHARITIES | 2 SUMMER 2013 “HAVING SOMEONE LIKE COACH HORNACEK AT OUR CAMP IS SO IMPORTANT. IT SHOWS THE KIDS THAT THESE ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO BECOME GREAT PLAYERS AND THEN GREAT COACHES.” — BILL FRIEDER, SUNS CAMPS DIRECTOR & FORMER ARIZONA STATE HEAD COACH SUNS BASKETBALL CAMPS Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek discusses the ins and outs of basketball with our Suns Basketball Camps attendees. Boys and girls received autographs and motivation from Suns’ forward-guard PJ Tucker. Campers also received hands-on instruction from Suns’ alumnus and Ring of Honor member, Alvan Adams who shared his vast knowledge of the game. | 3 “GROWING UP, I ALWAYS WANTED THAT ROLE MODEL AND I HAD IT. I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE TO LOOK UP TO WHEN THEY TELL YOU POSITIVE THINGS. TO DO THE SAME THINGS FOR THESE KIDS, REALLY MEANS A LOT TO ME.” —ARCHIE GOODWIN, SUNS GUARD OCTOBER 2013 SUNS HOST COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN NOGALES, MEXICO The Suns teamed up with the U.S. Consulate General Nogales and the City of Nogales, Sonora to host a day of community outreach which included a youth basketball clinic followed by a visit to DIF Nogales (similar to child protective services). SUNS RETURN TO FLAGSTAFF TO HOST INTRASQUAD SCRIMMAGE, SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES & BASKETBALL CLINICS The Phoenix Suns hosted a week-long series of fitness assemblies at elementary schools and basketball clinics at local YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs in Flagstaff, Arizona. Following an intrasquad scrimmage, Suns fans had the opportunity to interact with the players during an all- team autograph session. SUNS’ GOODWIN “IGNITES THE FUTURE” DURING READING ASSEMBLY FOR 1,200 STUDENTS Phoenix Suns’ rookie Archie Goodwin “Ignited the Future” for 1,200 Valley students during an assembly at US Airways Center that high- lighted the importance of reading and education. | 4 “IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL FOR US TO GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND GIVE BACK. TO GIVE A LITTLE JOY TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH SOME DIFFICULTIES IS A GREAT THING FOR US. THE PHOENIX SUNS HAVE ALWAYS DONE A GREAT JOB IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT.” NOVEMBER 2013 —JEFF HORNACEK, SUNS HEAD COACH SUNS’ MORRIS TWINS PROVIDE THANKSGIVING FOR 25 FAMILIES In the spirit of giving, Suns’ forwards Marcus and Markieff Morris pro- vided 25 families from Helping Hands for Single Moms with a free Thanksgiving dinner. Each family received a full, pre-cooked meal which the Morris twins helped package. SUNS VISIT ST. JUDE’S CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL IN MEMPHIS Suns players and staff take a break from their road trip to spread holiday cheer at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis before the Suns vs. Grizzlies game. SUNS’ FRYE HOSTS MEET AND GREET WITH FANS COURTESY OF COORS LIGHT Phoenix Suns forward Channing Frye hosted a meet and greet with fans at Zipps Sports Grill in Chandler. Frye took pictures and signed auto- graphs courtesy of Coors Light. SUNS’ LEN SIGNS AUTOGRAPHS FOR FANS AT ROOMSTORE Phoenix Suns rookie Alex Len visited fans at The RoomStore in Scottsdale where he signed autographs and took pictures with fans. “IT DEFINITELY HUMBLES ME. IT JUST OPENS MY EYES TO A LOT OF | 5 DIFFERENT THINGS. TIMES LIKE THIS YOU CAN LOOK BACK AND SAY THAT YOU HELPED SOMEBODY. YOU HAD AN IMPACT ON SOMEBODY’S LIFE.” —DIONTE CHRISTMAS, SUNS GUARD FRYE HOSTS 25 YOUTH FOR “SHOP WITH A JOCK” Phoenix Suns forward Channing Frye partnered with Sport Chalet to host 25 Valley youth from the Boys and Girls Club, Guadalupe Branch during the “Shop with a Jock” event. SUNS’ PLAYERS AND COACHES VISIT PATIENTS AT ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL Phoenix Suns players Viacheslav Kravtsov, Alex Len, Ish Smith, PJ Tucker, head coach Jeff Hornacek and The Gorilla visited patients at St. Joseph’s DECEMBER 2013 Hospital & Medical Center. CHRISTMAS ICE SKATES WITH PLAYWORKS YOUTH DURING “CHRISTMAS ON ICE” Phoenix Suns guard Dionte Christmas hosted “Christmas on Ice” at an outdoor ice rink for 20 underserved youth from Playworks Arizona. SUNS’ PLAYERS LACE UP THEIR BOWLING SHOES WITH SUITE HOLDERS AT LUCKY STRIKE The Phoenix Suns team laced up their bowling shoes and hit the pins with Suns suite holders at Lucky Strike. SUNS’ PLAYERS VISIT PATIENTS AT PHOENIX CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL Young patients received an early holiday surprise when Suns’ players stopped by for a visit bearing gifts. The Suns signed autographs and took pictures at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. SUNS SUPPORT MILITARY WITH “HOLIDAY CARDS FOR TROOPS” In a continuous effort to support our nation’s military, the Suns invited fans to write a special message to troops overseas as part of a “Holiday Cards for Troops” campaign. | 6 “THE SUNS ARE DEDICATED TO SHOWING OUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY. MANY MEMBERS OF OUR ORGANIZATION HAVE CLOSE TIES TO THE MILITARY AND PERSONALLY UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICE MADE BY THESE BRAVE INDIVIDUALS TO ENSURE OUR SAFETY AND PROTECT OUR FREEDOM.” —JASON ROWLEY, SUNS PRESIDENT & FORMER U.S. NAVY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST | 7 MILITARY APPRECIATION “SALUTE TO SERVICE” AT MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT The Phoenix Suns paid tribute to military veterans and active duty personnel during Military Appreciation Night presented by Carl’s Jr. The team celebrated by including active duty personnel and veterans in the national anthem, Suns player introductions and in-game tributes, activities and contests. JANUARY 2014 | 8 “GIVING BACK, TO ME, IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. I’M IN A CITY I GREW UP IN THAT I LOVE. I’M JUST PAYING THAT FORWARD. IT’S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO BE AN INFLUENCE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.” —CHANNING FRYE, SUNS FORWARD/CENTER SUNS TRADE PLACES WITH SOUTHWEST AIRLINES EMPLOYEES The Suns surprised Southwest Airlines passengers by trading places with employees for a day.