CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT 2019-20 TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 Prologue: A Brief History 52 Additional Ways We Are Involved ● Our Mission Black History Month Celebration ● Our Vision ▪ Hornets Legacy Project ● By the Numbers ▪ Season of Giving ▪ Pride Night ▪ Women’s Empowerment Night 10 Education ▪ Week of Service ▪ Barings Book Bus ▪ Pick & Read 66 Other Teams ▪ Education Grant Greensboro Swarm ▪ Venom GT Holiday Event 28 Hunger Scholarship Cornucopia ▪ Spectrum Center ▪ Dunk Hunger Food Drive ▪ Food Lion Feeds Initiatives 70 Ways You Have Helped ▪ Hunger Grant ▪ Heroes & Legends Gala ▪ Ally Community Corner 28 Military Care Hoops for Troops 76 Covid-19 ▪ Hornets Salute ▪ Military Care ▪ Yellow Ribbon Program 78 Partners ▪ Military Grant ▪ Corporate Partners ▪ Community Partners 40 Wellness Children’s Hospital Night 80 Join Us ▪ Her Time to Play Clinic Charlotte Hornets Foundation & ▪ Hospital Visits Corporate Social Responsibility Staff ▪ Hugo’s Little Heroes Credits ▪ Wellness Grant PROLOUGE: A BRIEF HISTORY The Charlotte Hornets Foundation is a 501c3 with the sole purpose of building a stronger community, from our community, for our community. When NBA legend Michael Jordan became majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets (then Charlotte Bobcats) in 2010, one of his top priorities was reinvesting in the community this team calls home. This led to creation of the Charlotte Hornets Foundation (previously Cats Care under the Bobcats). The Charlotte Hornets Foundation aims to create a stronger Charlotte community. After research, surveys and discussions with community leaders, the organization selected four pillars on which to focus: Education, Hunger, Military Care and Wellness. Individual initiatives have been established in these focal areas to reaffirm the mission that drives the work of the Charlotte Hornets Foundation and the Corporate Social Responsibility department. Through all of our efforts out in the community, we use the slogan “Swarm to Serve” to help show the collective impact that we have. The Hornets owner and executive staff have led in a way that enables the Hornets brand to be synonymous with commitment, compassion and kindness, and the team’s players follow in the vision set forth by their owner. They attend and participate in community events, engaging with partners, nonprofits and other organizations in the process. They partake not to be seen, but because they truly care. Since its inception in 2010, the Charlotte Hornets Foundation has awarded over 250 grants, inspired over 10,000 individual volunteers and seen over 500 player appearances in the community participating in events. With the help of over 120 partnerships, the Charlotte Hornets Foundation has grown into the robust organization it is today. The charitable arm of Hornets Sports & Entertainment, the Charlotte Hornets Foundation is committed to inspiring a philanthropic culture and strengthening the region through intentional partnerships, charitable giving and social projects in the areas of education, hunger, military care and wellness. The Charlotte Hornets Foundation encompasses the efforts of the entire organization, including the Charlotte Hornets, the NBA G League Greensboro Swarm and the NBA 2K League Hornets Venom GT. In order to fund the numerous programs, the Charlotte Hornets Foundation relies heavily on contributions from corporate partners, individuals and fundraising events. The impact the Charlotte Hornets Foundation makes is because of our partners, sponsors, fans and supporters. For that, we thank you. #SwarmToServe BOARD MEMBERS MICHAEL JORDAN JAMES JORDAN BETSY MACK FRED WHITFIELD JOE PIERCE JIM DUNLEVY Chairman President Executive Director Board Member Board Member Treasurer OUR MISSION To be a catalyst of change in the areas of Education, Hunger, Military Care and Wellness OUR VISION Shaping the Carolinas through our Swarm to Serve initiatives BY THE NUMBERS BY THE NUMBERS $250,000 $20,000 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Charlotte Hornets Foundation initiated Provided to Purple Heart Homes with a surprise check for $20,000 to continue the a multi-faceted response to assist with local relief efforts through financial work they are doing in the community at the unveiling of a Veteran’s home rebuild contributions. project. 59 100% Number of virtual shows conducted in just three weeks via the rebranded Barings Nearly 100% of Hornets Staff participate in volunteer opportunities throughout Book Bus tour, conducting virtual shows around the Carolinas, encouraging the year. reading, uplifting spirits, and promoting safety during COVID-19 pandemic. 2,020 1 Meals provided meals over five days to healthcare and essential workers in One local NBA team that works hard on the court, so that off the court they can underserved communities to show our gratitude for their response to COVID-19. lead the way in creating a stronger community for all. 15 Number of free little libraries placed throughout the community at various rec centers to be filled with books of varying languages, difficulty levels and interests. CHARLOTTE HORNETS | CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT | 2019 - 2020 EDUCATION | HUNGER | MILITARY | WELLNESS EDUCATION https://s.cdn.turner.com/drp/nba/hor- Education is the cultivation of knowledge in preparation for a quality life. It is the nets/sites/default/files/180226_pillar_ development of intellect, reason and judgement. education.jpg PHOTO Education is an action of welcoming possibility, of encouraging and giving time to discovery. It is a social process to prepare one for his or her future and a belief that people may flourish. Education is a cooperative and inclusive activity that looks to help people make the most of their lives. Presented By: 10 11 11 CHARLOTTE HORNETS | CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT | 2019 - 2020 EDUCATION | HUNGER | MILITARY | WELLNESS BARINGS BOOK BUS The Barings Book Bus and Hugo’s Dream Readers presentation is a part of the Charlotte Hornets’ “Excellence in Education” initiative. The purpose and goal of this program is to demonstrate the importance of reading to elementary school children in an effort to address one of Charlotte’s greatest educational issues – youth literacy. This full-service literacy bus encourages reading and learning programs for youth between the ages of 5 and 11 and holds approximately 3,000 books. The Barings Book Bus travels to elementary schools in and around the Charlotte area, where Hugo the Hornet performs an interactive and entertaining program that inspires students to pick up a book and read every day. After the program, two classes from each school are able to go through the Barings Book Bus and pick out a new book to take home. On March 10th, 2020, the Barings Book Bus operations stopped due to COVID-19 pandemic. However, after restructuring and reimagining the possibilities, Hugo and the Book Bus Crew, relaunched a virtual show. Hugo visits classrooms around the Carolinas, encouraging reading, uplifting spirits, and promoting safety during COVID-19 pandemic. In School Operations: 6,050 Books donated. 3,780 miles traveled. 36,515 students visited. 109 shows performed. Hugo Virtual Visits: 59 conference calls. 4,425 students participated. Summer Camp Book Deliveries: 7 Summer Camp Visits. 125 books donated. 12 13 CHARLOTTE HORNETS | CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT | 2019 - 2020 EDUCATION | HUNGER | MILITARY | WELLNESS PICK & READ The Hornets Pick & Read literacy program is an incentive-based reading program designed to promote the importance of self-selected reading and help develop avid, high-volume readers in our community. The Pick & Read program encourages reading. 14 15 CHARLOTTE HORNETS | CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT | 2019 - 2020 EDUCATION | HUNGER | MILITARY | WELLNESS EDUCATION GRANT The Hornets staff worked to create 15 free libraries painted in purple and teal. JE Dunn worked to install the libraries throughout the community at various rec centers to be filled with over 500 books of varying languages, difficulty levels and interests. The goal of the free libraries is to promote literacy and access to books throughout our city since many people do not have access to their own reading materials. Additionally, we provided Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation with a $10,000 check to assist with keeping up and maintaining the libraries to ensure the communities have access to reading materials for years to come. 16 17 CHARLOTTE HORNETS | CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT | 2019 - 2020 EDUCATION | HUNGER | MILITARY | WELLNESS HUNGER Everyone feels hungry on a daily basis. Most people are able to satisfy this need. However, some people don’t have the option of eating when they are hungry. They do https://s.cdn.turner.com/drp/nba/hor- not get enough calories or essential nutrients. They have one primary focus — how to feed themselves and their children today and tomorrow – and they have little energy nets/sites/default/files/180226_pillar_ for anything else. The cause of hunger is not a shortage of food but rather a lack of access to food. education.jpg PHOTO People living with food insecurity do not have a stable, reliable means of getting the meals they need to lead an active and healthy life. Because food is one of our most basic needs as humans, it can affect nearly everything we do. Presented By: Hunger can tear people and families apart emotionally, physically and spiritually. Hunger threatens our children and our nation’s future. 18 19 19 CHARLOTTE HORNETS | CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT