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| Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson along with Sacramento Monarchs Laura Harper, Crystal Kelly, Courtney Paris and Scholanda Robinson unveil a new reading and learning center on August 5 at St. John's Shelter Program for Women and Children in Sacramento, Califorinia. |
| Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Images |
New York, Sept. 8, 2009 — The WNBA, Toyota, and the Sacramento Monarchs have turned another dream into reality today as the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, in partnership with the Sacramento Monarchs and Wells Fargo, have been named the winners of the 2009 Toyota Project Rebound Contest. As part of the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs winning the contest, The Salvation Army - Ray Robinson Oak Park Community Center will receive a new Reading & Learning Center marking the fifth consecutive prize for Sacramento.
The 2009 Toyota Project Rebound Contest, formerly known as the “WNBA Court of Dreams” contest, is a league-wide campaign involving community groups from each of the 13 WNBA team markets competing to sell the most tickets for local WNBA games through the program period. Winners of the contest receive a Reading & Learning Center for a local community group in their area.
“Giving back to the communities who share the same passion and love for the game, our players and league is the great reward of this program,” said WNBA President Donna Orender. “On behalf of the WNBA, we applaud the Monarchs organization, the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, and Wells Fargo for their continual success in Sacramento that now serves thousands of youngsters by providing them with the opportunity to read and learn in safe environments throughout the city.”
“Toyota is pleased to help local organizations work together and strengthen community ties,” said Keith Dahl, National Marketing Manager for Toyota. “The new Reading & Learning Center will be a great complement to the basketball and recreational programs already in place and help to enhance the academic experience for local children.”
Past prizes won by the Sacramento Monarchs and their partners include:
“The Rotary Clubs in Rotary District 5180 are pleased to have won this contest for the Sacramento area," said Doug Kraft, co-chair, Sacramento Court of Dreams, Rotary District 5180. "This is the fifth consecutive year we have won this contest. During this period, we have purchased more than 24,000 tickets to WNBA games, raised in excess of $35,000 for the Kiwanis Family House and Rotary's Polio Plus, have sent thousands of kids to WNBA basketball games, and have built two basketball courts and three Reading & Learning Centers for deserving organizations in our community.”
“Winning the Toyota Project Rebound contest shows once again what can be accomplished when Kiwanis and Rotary combine their extensive network of contacts and work ethic for the benefit of the community,” said Gary Christensen, development manager of Kiwanis Family House. “Once our committee visited the Salvation Army facility and understood how more than 800 children, who have no access to anything similar, would benefit from the construction of a Reading & Learning center, it was a strong impetus to unite with our partners and move forward with a common goal. At the same time, we were able to provide thousands of underprivileged children an opportunity to attend a professional basketball game, for most, the first time. We are particularly grateful to the WNBA and Toyota for providing this opportunity to add an additional learning facility in our community for the benefit of Sacramento's future leaders, our children.”
”Wells Fargo is once again pleased to be a winning partner of the ‘Toyota Project Rebound Contest.' We are only as successful as the communities we serve and are proud to align ourselves with organizations that share our vision of supporting our communities,” said Felix Fernandez, Well Fargo Northern California Regional President. “Helping to create a new Reading and Learning Center for the Salvation Army solidifies our commitment to the Greater Sacramento area."
"The Salvation Army's Reading & Learning Center represents a safe, state-of-the-art locale for inner-city children to learn and thrive. The Salvation Army extends its heartfelt thanks to our WNBA Sacramento Monarchs, Maloof Sports and Entertainment, Rotary, Kiwanis, Wells Fargo, and the hundreds of selfless business and community leaders who made this possible for us and the children we serve. God has truly blessed The Salvation Army Sacramento in these trying economic times,” said Valerie Reynoso Piotrowski, director of Foundations & Corporate Relations.
"Thanks to the continued efforts of the Sacramento-area Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs and Wells Fargo, the Sacramento Community will once again be awarded a WNBA Cares Reading & Learning Center," said Danette Leighton, vice president of Monarchs Business Operations. "We are so proud of the dedication this team has shown the last five seasons. Sacramento has been awarded their fifth consecutive prize - including two WNBA regulation-size basketball courts and three WNBA Cares Reading & Learning Centers - as a result of their commitment to our community."
About the WNBA
The WNBA is a unique global sports property combining competition, sportsmanship, and entertainment value with its status as an icon for social change, achievement, and diversity. Comprised of 13 teams, the WNBA is the most successful women’s professional team sports league in the world. The 2009 WNBA Playoffs tip off Sept. 16. Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, increase breast and women’s health awareness, support youth and family development, and focus on education. For more information on the WNBA, log on to wnba.com.
About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota directly employs more than 35,000 people in the U.S. and sold more than 2.2 million vehicles in 2008. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com, www.lexus.com, www.scion.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.
About Maloof Sports and Entertainment
Maloof Sports & Entertainment includes the Sacramento Kings (NBA), Sacramento Monarchs (WNBA) and ARCO Arena. Led by Joe and Gavin Maloof, and owned by the Maloof family with long-term, local partners, the organization is committed to the community in Sacramento and to making a positive, meaningful difference in the lives of families in need and at risk in the Sacramento region. Maloof Sports & Entertainment has donated more than $13 million to charities in the Sacramento region in nine years of Maloof family ownership. For more information about Maloof Sports & Entertainment, please visit kings.com, sacramentomonarchs.com and arcoarena.com or call (916) 928-0000.
About Rotary International
Rotary International is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 31,000 Rotary clubs located in 167 countries. Rotary District 5180 serves the Sacramento area from Oroville and Gridley in the North to Elk Grove and Walnut Grove in the South, from West Sacramento to El Dorado Hills in the East with approximately 2,100 Rotarians participating in 37 clubs. To learn about Rotary International visit http://www.rotary.org/.
About Kiwanis Family House
Kiwanis Family House is dedicated to providing temporary housing and support to families of seriously ill or injured children being treated at the UC Davis Medical Center. For more information about Kiwanis Family House, please visit www.kiwanisfamilyhouse.org.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $540 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance through almost 6,000 stores and the Internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only bank in the U.S., and one of only two banks worldwide, to have the highest credit rating from both Moody’s Investors Service, "Aaa,” and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, “AAA.”