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SILVER STARS CARE—COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY For every assist on the court, we try to make twice as many off…
A sports franchise is more than a collection of superb athletes – it is a partnership with its community. When children succeed in school, we have an educated workforce, there is affordable housing, we embrace diversity, regular physical activity is routine, neighborhoods are safe, and we connect people and resources to make our community as strong and healthy as it can be…we all benefit. The San Antonio Silver Stars, in partnership with the Spurs Foundation, are committed to educational and recreational youth activities and programs that inspire, impact and motivate young people to engage in positive activities including exercise, healthy lifestyles, good decision-making skills and a commitment to their education.
Our Silver Stars also remain deeply committed to WNBA CARES programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on promoting advocates for women’s health issues including breast health awareness and heart disease.
Silver Stars "WNBA Fit" 
The Silver Stars will participate throughout the season in the WNBA initiative, WNBA Fit. This program encourages girls and women of all ages to learn more about their bodies and the importance of physical fitness programs related to health, fitness, nutrition, and self-esteem. Programming will inspire girls and women to get started on “being fit” through small changes in their daily routine. Throughout the season, Silver Stars players, coaches, and personnel will conduct events throughout the San Antonio community.
Breast Health Awareness
The Silver Stars Breast Health Awareness program will focus on generating awareness and educating women about breast health. The team will host a Breast Health Awareness night with area breast health non-profits including Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation, the American Cancer Society, Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC), Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., SLEW Wellness Center, and WINGS (Women Involved in Nurturing, Giving, Sharing, Inc.).
Once again, fans will also have the opportunity to log onto WNBA.com to bid on their favorite item featured in the WNBA’s Breast Health Awareness Auction. All proceeds from these items will benefit area Breast Health Awareness charities.
GO RED
The Silver Stars will once again promote the Go Red for Women campaign. Go Red For Women Night activities will encourage women to learn more about heart health and raise awareness of the risks of heart disease in women. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States.
Save a Life With A Bed Net
During the 2009 season, the Silver Stars, in conjunction with the Spurs Foundation and the United Nations Foundation, will raise funds to purchase insecticide-treated bed nets to distribute in Africa. Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. Every $10 raised purchases an insecticide-treated bed net, distributes it to a family in need in Africa and provides education on proper use to prevent malaria. For more information, please visit nothingbutnets.net. Silver Stars Center Ruth Riley is the WNBA’s official spokesperson for Nothing but Nets.
Read to Achieve 
Through the year-round NBA/WNBA reading initiative, READ TO ACHIEVE, the Silver Stars will again unite their leading assets to promote the value of reading, as well as encourage families and adults to read regularly with young children.
Here in San Antonio, the Silver Stars implement READ TO ACHIEVE through educational programming, read aloud events with Silver Stars players and coaches, and book donations. It is especially important for San Antonio to embrace literacy according to the recent findings from the 2008 “America’s Most Literate Cities” study that ranked San Antonio 64th out of 71 cities across the country. Poor literacy rates are directly related to high school dropout rates, unemployment, poverty and more.
High Five Readers, presented by SACU, Luby’s, and Magic 105.3
During the 2008-2009 school year, an exciting four-week reading challenge rewarded first through fifth graders with great prizes, including 2,500 Silver Stars, Spurs, and Rampage tickets. Designed to challenge students to develop good reading habits, students competed individually and as a class in this well-received school-year competition.
The Silver Stars and Whataburger Want Winners… in their Circle
During the 2009 Silver Stars regular season, students from San Antonio area Boys & Girls Clubs will be inducted into the “Whataburger Winner’s Circle”—a program that recognizes hardworking Bexar County middle school students at games. The winners are selected based on good citizenship and striving to do their best in and out of the classroom. Winners receive recognition and dinner from Whataburger.
Whataburger “What’cha Reading” Summer Reading Program
In its seventh year, the Silver Stars and Whataburger will reward more than 1,500 Bexar County children for accomplishments in reading through the “What’cha Reading” program. Every child who earns the What’cha Reading achievement certificate has the opportunity to enter a drawing for six incredible prizes courtesy of Whataburger: 1) limousine service, dinner and four floor tickets to a 2009 Silver Stars home game 2-5) four Silver Stars Suite passes for four to a selected 2008 home game, or 6) one community center Reading Time-Out with a Silver Stars player. Additionally, every What’cha Reading certificate includes a coupon good for one complimentary Justaburger Kid’s Meal.
Teaching Manners
For the fifth year, a group of teenagers from the San Antonio Boys & Girls Club branches will be invited to dine in style with members from the San Antonio Silver Stars. The group will be treated to a very special dinner that includes instruction on proper dining practices from a local etiquette instructor.
Spurs Youth Basketball League presented by Pizza Hut and Valero
Each winter, the Spurs Foundation funds and manages the Spurs Youth Basketball League, presented by Pizza Hut and Valero. For 19 years, the league has annually offered nearly 25,000 girls and boys the opportunity to play basketball, improve their athletic skills and learn the importance of respect, positive choices, teamwork, cooperation, sportsmanship and discipline in a drug-free and safe environment. All participants are also members of the JR. NBA / JR. WNBA.
Junior Silver Stars
The Spurs Foundation and Kids Sports Network have teamed up to once again offer the Junior Silver Stars, presented by St. Philip’s College. This summer basketball league for 400 girls—ages 9-16 will be held at eight participation sites throughout the city. The participants learn asketball as well as life skills and runs between mid June and early August.
Silver Stars Basketball Camp
The San Antonio Silver Stars’ Basketball Camps invite girls ages 8-18 to experience and learn from the Stars’ winning attitude in this summer's basketball camp. Girls are trained by the pros in fundamentals, strategies, and drills, and no previous basketball experience is necessary. For more information and a free brochure, please call (210) 444-5021 or visit www.sasilverstars.com.
Drive to the Goal
Each year the Silver Stars hold several drives for local charities. In the 2009 season, a Pet Food Drive will be held benefiting local animal shelters. Each donor will be rewarded with a pair of tickets for every $10 worth of pet food donated. Just before the beginning of the school year, the Silver Stars will also hold a School Supply Drive to benefit several local school districts. The Stars will partner with the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center for a blood drive as well.