PHOENIX SUNS 2015 COMMUNITY REPORT $1,169,000 IN PHOENIX SUNS CHARITIES GRANTS GIVEN 485 192 GORILLA COMMUNITY APPEARANCES 393 SUNS PLAYER APPEARANCES ALUMNI COMMUNITY APPEARANCES OVER 16,000 YOUTH STAYING FIT WITH JR. SUNS 1,500 BASKETBALL PROGRAM DONATIONS TO ARIZONA CHARITIES 2,600 HOLIDAY CARDS SENT $60,000 TO TROOPS OVERSEAS IN PHOENIX SUNS CHARITIES SCHOLARSHIPS OVER $140,000 $300,000 WORTH OF SUNS TICKETS DONATED BY OUR PLAYERS IN DONATION ITEMS @SUNSCOMMUNITY @SUNSCOMMUNITY SUNS.COM/COMMUNITY PG. 1 AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 47TH SEASON AT THE PHOENIX SUNS, we are reminded of our mission to provide the finest in sports and entertainment to our fans. But our mission extends far beyond our games on the court and moments in the spotlight. In fact, the thing we hold most dear is our daily interaction with the community, and our commitment to serving its unmet needs. LOOKING BACK AT THE 2014–15 NBA SEASON, we are grateful for the numerous opportunities given to us to demonstrate this commitment. We were fortunate to participate in many uplifting and life-changing activities this past season, some of which have been captured on the pages that follow. THIS SEASON ALONE, the Phoenix Suns supported outstanding programs and initiatives through $1,169,000 in contributions to local non- profits that serve the needs of children and families in Arizona. On top of that, Phoenix Suns Charities awarded scholarships totaling $60,000 to Arizona high school seniors who excelled academically and had a stellar record of service to their schools and their communities. OUR SUNSCENTRAL PROGRAM AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL IN PHOENIX COMPLETED ITS THIRD YEAR, AND THE VERDICT IS IN: SunsCentral wins! The success of SunsCentral has been astonishing. Its mission was to significantly improve graduation rates through hands-on assistance to students in a comprehensive classroom/tutoring/individual paradigm. The setting for this effort did not offer much of an advantage. Central High graduation rates had been declining for several years. But focused effort—from students, their families, teachers, administrators, tutors and volunteers—proves you can buck a bad trend. At the end of this, our third year, we are well on our way to accomplishing our SunsCentral goal. Graduation rates have increased from 69.9% in 2012–13 to 90% during the 2014–15 school year! THE PHOENIX SUNS ORGANIZATION—THE PLAYERS, COACHES, TRAINERS, AND FRONT OFFICE—devoted more than 400 volunteer hours to charities during our Week of Service in September. As you flip through these pages, you will see smiles that add up to a lot more than that. Likewise, during our annual Season of Giving campaign, our players, alumni, entertainers and front office staff put on 16 events in two weeks to share with those in need during the holidays. We were also gratified to honor our nation’s military heroes, past and present, several times throughout the season. One of the most memorable initiatives was our annual Holiday Cards for Troops campaign, which tipped off during our Military Appreciation Night, allowing us to send 2,600 cards overseas to active duty personnel from Suns fans and staff. THE PHOENIX SUNS ALSO TEAMED UP WITH LOCAL NON-PROFIT PAL EXPERIENCES TO CREATE A FIRST-OF- ITS-KIND INTERACTIVE PROGRAM that makes attending a Suns home game more predictable and enjoyable for fans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The newly launched website (suns.com/pal) features a step-by-step video and “Phoenix Suns PAL Guide” to assist fans with navigation and non-verbal communication while attending a game. We want every Suns fan to have a great time at the game! WE AGAIN THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR THE CONSISTENTLY WARM WELCOME IT EXTENDS TO THE SUNS GORILLA. This year, GO (as his friends call him) made appearances at 485 events. That is “huge leap” from an average of 350 during prior years. Our Suns alumni also had a record number of appearances this year with 393 visits, while our players made another 192 of their own. BECAUSE “A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS,” we present this report for your review and pleasure. We hope you enjoy it. We certainly enjoyed every minute that went into making the memories. It has been our privilege to connect with so many this season. Thanks to our fans for their unwavering support, and our partners whose assistance made much of the magic possible. We look forward to working with you again in the coming season to continue to improve the lives of Arizona’s children and families. Jason C. Rowley President, Phoenix Suns & Phoenix Mercury I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A SUNS BASKETBALL FAN, BUT AFTER HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE FOLKS BEHIND THE SCENES, I AM A FANATIC! THE SUNS INSTANTLY SUPPORTED PAL’S MISSION TO SERVE FANS WITH COGNITIVE DISABILITIES AND POURED EVERYTHING INTO MAKING OUR COLLABORATION AWESOME AND EFFECTIVE. THE SUNS DO BEAUTIFUL THINGS AND I FEEL SO LUCKY TO HAVE MET, WORKED AND BUILT FRIENDSHIPS WITH THEM.” — MELANIE ISAACS, DIRECTOR, PAL EXPERIENCES, INC. P.J. Tucker high fives youth at a local Boys & Girls Club during a basketball clinic. SUMMER SUPPORT WHEN THE SUNS ORGANIZATION DEDICATES SUNS’ PLUMLEE VISITS SUNS BASKETBALL CAMPS THEMSELVES TO A COMMUNITY PROJECT, THERE Phoenix Suns’ center Miles Plumlee visited kids attending the Phoenix IS NO HOLDING BACK! THEY BECOME A PARTNER Suns Basketball Day Camps. Plumlee talked to attendees about the impor- tance of sportsmanship, fundamental skill development, teamwork and a IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE PROCESS, FROM positive attitude during their camp awards ceremony. BEGINNING TO END! WE APPRECIATE THE PHOENIX SUNS COLLECT & DONATE BACKPACKS TO NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES THEY OFFER THE SCHOOLS IN NEED Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury in partnership with Coca-Cola and YOUTH AND FAMILIES OF OUR ORGANIZATION.” Harkins Theatre, collected and donated 800 backpacks filled with school —BRIDGET MCDONALD, VP OF CLUB OPERATION, BOYS & GIRLS CLUB supplies to Bethune Elementary, a Playworks Arizona school. Suns’ alum- nus Tim Kempton, The Gorilla and Solar Squad delivered backpacks to kindergarten through fifth grade students at the Title 1 School. SUNS’ ISAIAH THOMAS DONATES BACKPACKS TO BOYS & GIRLS CLUB KIDS Phoenix Suns’ guard Isaiah Thomas held an event to distribute hundreds of donated backpacks to local Boys & Girls Club youth. Thomas told club members prior to shooting hoops with the kids, “Anything is possible when you put your mind to it. You can achieve any goal you set aside.” BACKPACKS DONATED 800 TO TITLE 1 SCHOOLS 1,200 YOUTH STAYING ACTIVE WITH SUNS SUMMER BASKETBALL CAMPS PG. 3 WEEK OF SERVICE NON-PROFITS BENEFITED: SPECIAL OLYMPICS ARIZONA, ST. MARY’S FOOD BANK, FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN, PHOENIX SUNS HOST “WEEK OF SERVICE” TO BENEFIT VALLEY ORGANIZATIONS PLAYWORKS ARIZONA, REBUILDING TOGETHER Suns players, alumni, executives and staff gave back to the Phoenix com- munity during the “Suns Week of Service.” The Suns organization held volunteer events throughout the week to total over 400 volunteer hours to benefit various non-profit organizations in the Valley. OVER • Suns’ Plumlee & Randolph host clinic for Special Olympics athletes • Phoenix Suns pack food boxes for St. Mary’s Food Bank • Suns’ Warren & Ennis volunteer at Feed My Starving Children • Suns’ Tolliver & Tucker work with Rebuilding Together to repaint a veteran’s home • Suns’ Chambers & Hunter participate in a “Day of Play” with Playworks 400 VOLUNTEER HOURS TO SUPPORT LOCAL NON-PROFITS WE CONSIDER THE PHOENIX SUNS ORGANIZATION AS ONE OF OUR MAJOR PARTNERS FUELING OUR GROWTH; THEY TRULY CARE ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY!”—CHUCK WARSHAVER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PLAYWORKS ARIZONA Suns’ Ring of Honor member Alvan Adams poses with veteran Bill Skinner during a Rebuilding Together event. Suns’ guard Gerald Green tosses autographed miniature basketballs out to the crowd after Open Practice. FUEL THE FIRE SUNS HOST INTRASQUAD SCRIMMAGE AT NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY The Phoenix Suns hosted an open intrasquad scrimmage at Northern Arizona University’s Skydome to culminate their week of Training Camp in Flagstaff. After the scrimmage, fans were treated to an all-team autograph session where they were able to interact with their favorite players. SUNS HOST OPEN PRACTICE FOR FANS Suns Community Ambassador Steven Hunter and Flagstaff elementary students Phoenix Suns fans received a free look at the 2014–15 Suns when the are all smiles after an NBA Fit assembly. team hosted its annual Open Practice at US Airways Center. Immediately following the practice, select Suns fans had the opportunity to interact with the team through on-court player competitions. FITNESS EDUCATION SUNS HOST COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR NBA FIT IN FLAGSTAFF The Phoenix Suns hosted a series of NBA Fit assemblies, basketball clinics and events to promote community involvement in Flagstaff during Suns Training Camp. OVER 4,000 YOUTH REACHED THROUGH FLAGSTAFF ASSEMBLIES AND CLINICS PG. 5 FEEDING A COMMUNITY DRAGIC BROTHERS SPONSOR STUDENTS AT CESAR CHAVEZ SCHOOL THROUGH BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK Phoenix Suns’ guards Goran and Zoran Dragic partnered with the non-profit organization, Blessings in a Backpack, to provide students at Cesar Chavez Community School with healthy, ready-to-eat foods for the school year. The Dragic brothers discussed the importance of education and proper nutrition before distributing Thanksgiving meals and school supplies in backpacks to students. PHOENIX SUNS DONATE $2,500 & TURKEYS TO THE SALVATION ARMY The Phoenix Suns donated $2,500 and a shopping cart full of turkeys to 3TV’s Big Give Turkey Drive to benefit The Salvation Army. Suns Ring of Honor member, Tom Chambers and The Gorilla, supported this annual initiative which is a partnership between Fry’s Food Stores and 3TV. Suns’ guards Goran and Zoran Dragic inspire students before distributing Thanksgiving meals.