2018-2019 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 Letter from the Chairman 68 Additional Ways We Are Involved Prologue: A Brief History 30 Acts of Kindness By the Numbers Hurricane Florence Relief Efforts Black History Month Celebration Our Mission Hornets Legacy Project Our Vision Jr. NBA Clinic Season of Giving 12 Education 50/50 For Change Night Barings Book Bus Pride Night Day of Service Pick & Read 78 Ways You Have Helped Education Grants Heroes and Legends Gala Ride at the Hive 42 Hunger Ally Community Corner Cornucopia Dunk Hunger Food Drive 84 Partners Food Lion Feeds Initiatives Corporate Partners Pass the Plate Community Partners Hunger Grant 85 Join Us 54 Military Care Charlotte Hornets Foundation & Veteran Internship Stipend Program Military Care Corporate Social Responsibility Staff Yellow Ribbon Program Credits Hornets Salute Military Grants 26 Wellness Children’s Hospital Night Hospital Visits Hugo’s Little Heroes Lending Tree Kicks Special Olympics Clinic Wellness Grants LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN Through our corporate social responsibility department and the Charlotte Hornets Foundation, Hornets Sports & Entertainment is committed to supporting our community. With a primary focus on our four key pillars of education, hunger, military care and wellness, we are constantly seeking ways in which we can make a positive impact. This Annual Report highlights our community outreach efforts during the 2018-19 season. Our annual events include the Heroes & Legends Gala, Cornucopia, Military Care and Day of Service, as well as basketball clinics for groups such as Special Olympics of North Carolina. Our community programs include the Barings Book Bus, Hugo’s Little Heroes, Hornets Salute and Yellow Ribbon. Additionally, we provide grants to organizations in each of our four pillars. We also look for opportunities where we can help those in need. I was proud of how our organization stepped up after Hurricane Florence hit the Carolinas last September, raising money and donating time to relief efforts. Seeing our entire staff, including our players and coaches three days before they started training camp, pack boxes to send to those on the coast was a great feeling. When I had the opportunity to visit my hometown of Wilmington shortly thereafter, I saw firsthand just how much our contributions were needed. In the pages that follow, you can learn more about all of these initiatives, along with the other ways we assist with the important needs of the Charlotte area. We are dedicated to this community and we will continue to find ways to contribute and serve. With the help of our partners, ticket holders and fans, we can keep building momentum. Together, we can truly make a difference. Sincerely, Michael Jordan Chairman Hornets Sports & Entertainment 4 5 PROLOGUE: 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. 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 6 7 BY THE NUMBERS BY THE NUMBERS 5,000 7,000 900 7 Over 5,000 emergency meal kits packed and distributed to aid in Over 7,000 care kits packed by volunteers and distributed to U.S. Over 900 students will be able to learn through a newly transformed Exactly 7 courts were refurbished in the West disaster relief and recovery efforts military members overseas through the USO of North Carolina. empty school yard at Lebanon Road Elementary into an engaging Charlotte community outdoor classroom 267 80 75,000 100% Precisely 267 community appearances by Hornets players, coaches, Over 80 Special Olympics athletes individuals spent the day at a Around 75,000 students visited by the Barings Book Bus, Nearly 100% of Hornets Staff participate in volunteer executives, broadcasters, and ambassadors. basketball clinic with the full Hornets Basketball team promoting the importance of reading. opportunities throughout the year. one one one 1 one one one One local NBA team that works hard on the court, so that off the court they can lead the way in creating a stronger community for all. 8 9 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 10 https://s.cdn.turner.com/drp/nba/hor- nets/sites/default/files/180226_pillar_ Presented By: education.jpg PHOTO Education is the cultivation of knowledge in preparation for a quality life. It is the development of intellect, reason and judgement. 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 EDUCATION cooperative and inclusive activity that looks to help people make the most of their lives. 13 EDUCATION | HUNGER | MILITARY | WELLNESS BARINGS BOOK BUS BOOKS DISTRIBUTED: The Barings Book Bus and Hugo’s Dream Readers presentation is a part of the Charlotte Hornets’ “Excellence in 14,750 Education” initiative. The purpose and goal of this program is to demonstrate the importance of reading to elementary MILES TRAVELED school children in an effort to address one of Charlotte’s greatest educational issues – youth literacy. 6,343 This full-service literacy bus encourages reading and learning programs for youth between the ages of 5 and 11 and holds STUDENTS VISITED 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 75,685 every day. After the program, two classes from each school SHOWS PERFORMED are able to go through the Barings Book Bus and pick out a new book to take home. 173 14 CHARLOTTE HORNETS // CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT // 2018 - 2019 EDUCATION | HUNGER | MILITARY | WELLNESS DAY OF SERVICE The Charlotte Hornets, in partnership with Bank of America, THE SIX LOCAL held their 12th annual all-staff Day of Service on June 26, NONPROFITS WERE: 2019. This year’s Day of Service focused social economic mobility. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte Charlotte was ranked 50th out of 50 for largest US cities for Camino Community Center social economic mobility. Ramifications from this statistic are felt throughout the city in all zip codes and in all phases of Crisis Assistance Ministry life. Through this event, volunteers dove deeper into different areas, showcasing that needs are not exclusive to a select Dress for Success group or part of town, but are widespread throughout. Friendship Trays More than 300 volunteers from the Hornets and Bank of Second Harvest Food Bank America visited six local nonprofits to assist their efforts to of Metrolina provide members of the community with essential items such as food and clothing. Sites were spread throughout Charlotte to show the economic mobility needs are not exclusive to select groups or areas but are widespread and impact the city as a whole. 16 CHARLOTTE HORNETS // CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT // 2018 - 2019 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. 18 CHARLOTTE HORNETS // CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT // 2018 - 2019 EDUCATION | HUNGER | MILITARY | WELLNESS EDUCATION GRANT The Charlotte Hornets Foundation presented Winding Springs Elementary with a $25,000 grant to complete a Technology Lab Makeover as part of the Education Pillar. The Barings Book Bus surprised the school with a show for third, fourth and fifth grades which was live streamed throughout the school. The makeover included 30 new laptops, mice, desks and chairs, along with a laptop cart and new décor and branding. 20 CHARLOTTE HORNETS // CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT // 2018 - 2019 https://s.cdn.turner.com/drp/nba/horPresented By: - nets/sites/default/files/180226_pillar_ education.jpg PHOTO Everyone feels hungry on a daily basis.