Dear Friends, the Rockets Recently Celebrated the 20-Year
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Dear Friends, The Rockets recently celebrated the 20-Year Anniversary of bringing back-to-back NBA World Championships to the city of Houston. Reliving those moments with members of those two great teams reminded me of the foundational principals that have guided this organization since I purchased the team in 1993—winning on the court and giving back to this community. Twenty years have come and gone, and we’re even more relentless in our pursuit of another title, and as equally invested in serving those in need throughout our city. We are extremely proud to present the 2014-15 Houston Rockets Community Report which highlights the projects and initiatives that we’ve implemented throughout this past season. We’re grateful to be able to work alongside our community partners who we believe are true heroes for the daily work they do to make life better for the men, women and children who depend on their support. The programs, fundraisers and special events hosted on behalf of our community partners have always been our way of giving back to this great city. Through the Clutch City Foundation and our Rockets Give Back programs, our entire organization—players, coaches, front office and staff—is invested in our outreach efforts. Thank you for supporting the Rockets in all that we do. We’re proud to be part of such an amazing city where people work together to make life better for those less fortunate, and we’re looking forward to the next 20 years of winning big and giving back. Leslie Alexander Owner, Houston Rockets 1 Leslie Alexander was joined by James Harden, Dwight Howard, Coach Kevin McHale and the entire Rockets team at the annual Memorial Hermann Circle of Life Gala. As honorary chair, Mr. Alexander and the Rockets came out in full force to lend their support to help raise funds for the hospital’s orthopedics and sports medicine programs. The night tipped-off with a private reception and later progressed to the grand ballroom where more than 1800 guests were in attendance. Rockets CEO Tad Brown, GM Daryl Morey and Rockets Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler also attended the gala, which raised $3.1 million for the worthy cause. 2 3 Leslie Alexander has loved animals his entire life, and has generously donated to causes that ensure the safe and humane treatment of all animals. So it was an easy decision to provide funding to Houston’s Rescued Pets Movement to build a new foster clinic for homeless pets. RPM rescues pets from local shelters that euthanize, and transport them to animal welfare organizations throughout the country that have demand for adoptable pets. Named in memory of his late father Jack C. Alexander, the new clinic boards, provides medical care, and prepares pets for transportation. 4 There were big dogs, little dogs and lots of Rockets gear-wearing dogs at the 2nd Annual Dog Walk. Rockets fans and their furry friends strutted through the scenic routes of Hermann Park as they helped raise funds for the Hermann Park Conservancy. 5 Presented by To mark the heroic sacrifices made by first responders on September 11, 2001, Rockets Head Coach Kevin McHale, GM Daryl Morey, Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy and more than 100 Rockets business team members teamed up with Papa John’s Pizza to pay tribute to members of the Houston Fire Department. The group canvassed the city to deliver t-shirts, tickets and pizza to all 92 Houston area fire stations. 6 Each season, Rockets players make it possible for underserved children and families to attend home games. This past season, Dwight Howard, Jason Terry and Trevor Ariza purchased nearly 3,700 tickets and t-shirts reserved for the Rockets for Youth ticket section. This investment in youth can’t be measured in simple dollars and cents, because the impact that this generous gesture has on the kids who receive the tickets is priceless! 7 Presented by The Rockets launched the 2014-2015 season by bringing the NBA experience to the streets surrounding Toyota Center. More than 5,000 fans took part in the first ever Houston Rockets Fan Fest for Food, a family festival featuring Rockets players and legends, inflatable games, music, food, basketball contests and entertainer performances, which raised over $20,000 and collected more than 50,000 non-perishable food items for Casa de Esperanza and Target Hunger. 8 Rockets players, legends and staff teamed up with members of the armed forces to paint and landscape the Wesley Community Center, as well as host a clinic for elementary students. The joint service day was a part of Hoops for Troops, a partnership between the NBA and the Department of Defense where teams work alongside military personnel on projects that improve their communities. 9 Rockets GM Daryl Morey was in his element when he and American Chess Grandmaster, Susan Polgar, hosted a chess event for students at Baylor College of Medicine at Ryan Middle School. An avid and accomplished chess player himself, Daryl relished the opportunity to take part in a friendly competition with Polgar, while also watching the grandmaster demonstrate complex strategies to chess club students. 10 It’s become an annual holiday tradition for Rockets employees – spending the Friday before Thanksgiving volunteering at a Target Hunger food distribution site. As part of the Rockets Give Back program, members of the business team help distribute groceries to hundreds of families who need assistance. At the end of the day, after filling bags with food, putting groceries in cars and meeting so many wonderful people – everyone knows that they’ve absolutely made a real difference. 11 For the past 14 years, Rockets owner Leslie Alexander has hosted a private party for families who need additional support during the holidays. The families involved are recipients of the Houston Chronicle’s Goodfellows program, which provides holiday toys to children who would otherwise not receive them. Children and their parents enjoy watching a Rockets home game in a luxury suite, which includes dinner, games, face painters and gifts for every child in attendance. Mr. Alexander has donated more than $1 million dollars to Goodfellows since he began supporting the program in 2000. 12 Giving back during the holidays takes on a whole new meaning for fans and Rockets employees who make it an annual December tradition to participate in the team’s Commit for Life Blood Drive benefiting the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. More than 20,000 lives have been saved since the Rockets began hosting the Blood Drive in 2006. 13 14 Presented by Tis the season to be jolly—and the Rockets and ZTE spent the holiday season spreading cheer to hundreds of families who needed a helping hand. THANKSGIVING WITH HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE The Season of Giving began in November at the Houston Area Urban League where Rockets players, Clutch and ZTE executives distributed groceries and shopping gift cards to families from underserved commodities. CHILDREN’S MEMORIAL HERMANN HOSPITAL The Season of Giving caravan made its way to Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, with a private party for patients. Rockets players, ZTE, Clutch, and the Rockets Power Dancers put smiles on the faces of patients and their siblings as they played video games, did arts & crafts, and passed out gifts. ONE HUNDRED CHILDREN RECEIVE BIKES The last stop for ZTE was Toyota Center, where 100 children attended a holiday extravaganza with Rockets players, which included a surprise presentation of bikes, helmets and backpacks for every child in attendance. 15 Each child beamed with excitement about attending a holiday party with Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy, Rockets players and Bowen, Miclette & Britt employees. These special children from the Candlelighters Cancer Foundation had a great time taking photos with players, doing crafts and competing with Calvin Presented by in an art coloring contest! BMB provided gifts for every child in attendance. 16 Rockets players came bearing gifts for families residing at the Ronald McDonald House Houston. The house was bustling with lots of fun activities—and lots of laughs as players passed out gifts and played games with families. Even legendary house dog, Mogie, got in on the fun. 17 James Harden and his mother, Monja Willis, provided a catered Thanksgiving meal for more than 100 men, women and children in Houston’s Acres Homes community. Rockets players and coaches also joined Harden in serving the meal to families, which made for an extra special blessing for those in attendance. The Harden family once again came together in December to give back to those less fortunate by hosting a holiday shopping spree for 15 single mothers and their children. Shopping carts were filled with toys, clothes, shoes and groceries—making it a very special Christmas for all! James and his family partnered with Aldine Family Hope Center and Change Happens, Inc to identify mothers and grandmothers who needed assistance. 18 19 20 It was a dream come true for 150 children and their moms, from Houston’s Sunnyside community, who were treated to a shopping spree courtesy of Dwight Howard and his D12 Foundation. Dwight, alongside each child, roamed the aisles helping to pick out items on their wish list. Families were selected by the Push to Win Outreach in Sunnyside. Dwight also launched “Breathe Again,” a grassroots movement that seeks to promote understanding and acceptance between members of society, rather than hatred or violence. Throughout the season, he found opportunities to speak with youth across the country about making an effort to understand each other’s differences. Dwight emphasized the importance of taking a moment to breathe, and to restrain oneself, when faced with difficult and volatile situations.