Chamique Holdsclaw Receives Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award


Chamique Holdsclaw works with several youth groups in the community
Terrence Vaccaro/NBAE/Getty Images
NEW YORK, July 20, 2010 � The WNBA has named six-time WNBA All-Star and current San Antonio Silver Star Chamique Holdsclaw � who played with the Atlanta Dream last year � as the recipient of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award today in recognition of her outstanding community work in Atlanta in 2009. The award recognizes the player who best exemplifies the characteristics of a leader in the community and reflects Staley�s leadership, spirit, charitable efforts, and love for the game.

�Chamique Holdsclaw brings her passion and love for basketball and community in so many ways,� said WNBA President Donna Orender. �Through her community efforts and dedication to fans, Chamique has touched lives throughout the city and the nation and we congratulate her for all her good work.�

Chamique credits her involvement with Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens, N.Y. as a youth for much of her success on and off the basketball court and as a reason why she is committed to working with children.

Throughout the year, Chamique worked with several youth groups in the community, including the Butler Street YMCA, the Power of Girls program, and the Metro Atlanta Boys & Girls Club, where she spent time with the youngsters teaching them the importance of eating healthy and staying fit. She also hosted various basketball clinics and reading events and donated game tickets to hundreds of young fans in the surrounding areas.

�Chamique is a true leader both on and off the court,� said Dawn Staley. �Her effort in the community was second to none and will have a long lasting effect on the lives of our youth today. Our young fans look up to her and all she has accomplished and I am thrilled and honored to have Chamique accept this award.�

In addition to her ongoing work speaking to youth about the importance of education and the basketball court as a safe haven, Chamique extensively participated in Breast Health Awareness Week. As part of the �Dream Pink� auction, Chamique donated an autographed pink jersey and basketball shoes for both DeKalb Medical and the Kay Yow Foundation. In honor of her late grandmother, June Holdsclaw, Chamique also made a contribution to the American Heart Association prior to the Dream�s �Go Red� game.

�I�m honored to be the recipient of the Dawn Staley Award,� said Holdsclaw. �In my early years in the league, Dawn was someone who I looked up to both as a player and for her efforts in the community. I am grateful to the Atlanta community for embracing me and my efforts, and the WNBA for giving me the platform to emulate Dawn's great work.�

The Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award is presented annually. Each WNBA team nominated one player and a designated committee selected Holdsclaw as the winner. The WNBA will make a $10,000 donation to a charity of her choosing.