AUBURN HILLS, MI - The WNBA Detroit Shock and American Red Cross - Southeastern Michigan Chapter will honor extraordinary foster parents Earline Dorsey and Carolann and Jim Reed with The Detroit Shock and American Red Cross “My Personal Heroes” Award on June 24 on The Palace court at halftime of the Shock game vs. Washington at 12 p.m. A representative of the American Red Cross - Southeastern Michigan Chapter, will present the award to the honorees, who each have opened their respective homes to between 150-200 foster children.

Dorsey has been a foster parent with St. Francis Family Services since 1990 and has had well over 100 children - from birth to age 18 - placed in her home. She adopted one child while being a foster parent, and continues to keep her doors open to many children for respite care and independent living. “I love the kids and the joy they bring to my life,” says Dorsey, a mother of three biological and one adopted child and a grandmother of seven.

Carolann Reed, from Clarkston, has been a licensed foster parent since February 1973. She spent most years as a foster parent affiliated with Catholic Family Services, but she is currently with Ennis. She and her husband Jim have taken in more than 150 children, most of them with special needs. The Reed’s have taken on children from two days old to 16 years old. They prefer to take on the children who are medically fragile. The couple has five biological children, and has adopted five of their former foster children. Their two youngest adopted children, Michael (13) and Chanae (11) live at home. Carolann says that the most gratifying part of her experience is “seeing the progress that the children make; so many of them have grown up to be such great people.” She receives a lot of love and support from her Husband Jim who will celebrate their 47th Wedding Anniversary on Tuesday, June 27.

The WNBA Detroit Shock and American Red Cross My Personal Heroes Program is a second-year initiative that encourages fans to nominate a person or group from their local community who has gone above and beyond the call of duty and recognize their accomplishments at a Shock home game during the 2006 season.

To nominate a hero, who can come from any walk of life, fans only need to complete an on-line nomination form at detroitshock.com or send name(s), address, phone number and name of school or organization to:

“WNBA Detroit Shock and American Red Cross My Personal Heroes”

The Palace of Auburn Hills

Four Championship Drive

Auburn Hills, MI 48326

Only one entry per person per email address per household will be accepted. Please see www.detroitshock.com for a complete list of rules/regulations and additional information. For more information on the My Personal Heroes program or to purchase tickets for any upcoming home game, please contact The Palace at (248) 377-0100 or visit www.detroitshock.com.

- For information on NBA Pistons & WNBA Detroit Shock Community Programming, please visit www.pistons.com or www.detroitshock.com