Fever in the Community

Fever Advisory Team
In a unique partnership with the Indianapolis community, the Fever created a Community Advisory Team in January 2000. The Advisory Team is a support group, which consists of nearly 30 prominent and influential women in the Indianapolis area. The partnership between the Fever and the community leaders is the first of its kind in the WNBA�s eight-year history. The intent of the Advisory Team is to galvanize support from some of the most influential women in the city and to assist the Fever with various community programs.

F.E.V.E.R.
For Every Victory Earns Respect � Fever players spend nearly three months between January and March speaking to Indianapolis-area fifth-grade boys and girls about the value of setting goals and achieving them. Niele Ivey and Kelly Schumacher conducted the tour of fifth-trade classrooms during the 2003-04 offeason. Tamika Catchings appeared at more than 30 schools during the 2001-02 offseason, while teammates Ivey and Schumacher double-teamed over 30 schools during the 2002-03 offseason.

Self-Esteem Seminar
For a third straight year, the Fever targeted young girls from the Indianapolis Public School (IPS) system and conducted a self-esteem seminar prior to the start of the season. One of the franchise's primary community relations initiatives, the purpose of the seminar each year is to help boost self-esteem, to help avoid drug use, alcoholism, teen pregnancy and crime. Usually held in late April prior to the start of training camp, last year's Self-Esteem Seminar was held on Wednesday, April 23 at the NCAA Hall of Champions with participation from Tamika Catchings, Niele Ivey, Kelly Schumacher and Stephanie White.

Pregame Ball Exchange
A trademark of the WNBA and the Indiana Fever, the pregame ball exchange affords youngsters an opportunity to receive a game ball from Fever players prior to the tipoff of each game.

Fever Friends
In partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana, the Fever matched young boys and girls with an adult mentor to attend Fever games throughout the 2003 season. Through this program, Fever players interact with kids and serve as role models. Fever Friends, which started during the inaugural Fever season in 2000, partnered exclusively with Big Sisters of Indiana prior to this year. Since the Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs merged, the Fever will now host boys and girls, beginning in 2003.

The Fever Fund of the Pacers Foundation
The vision of the Fever Fund of the Pacers Foundation is to be recognized as a leading funding resource for programs that promote a strong self-image and encourage the development of valuable life skills among young women throughout the state of Indiana. Annual fundraising opportunities are conducted through each of the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever basketball franchises. Specific to the Fever Fund, organizations benefiting from since 2001, among others, are the Boys & Girls Club of Indianapolis, Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis, The Julian Center and the YWCA Family Intervention Center.

Give-A-Game Program
Over the past four years, individuals and companies have purchased Fever season tickets and donated those tickets to the Pacers Foundation or another organization of their choice, allowing youth in the community to attend a Fever game. Last year over 17,500 tickets were donated over the course of the 17-game home schedule. At every Fever home game over the past two seasons, over 1,000 seats were occupied by kids benefiting from the Give-A-Game program.

Governor�s Fitness Challenge
The Fever has partnered for the past two years with the Indiana Governor's Office for the Governor's Fitness Challenge. The school with the most students who completed a 9-week fitness challenge won a 1-hour Fever fitness clinic hosted by a Fever player and coach at their school. The 2003 Northern Indiana winner was New Britton Elementary School. For the second year in a row, St. Mary's Catholic School was the Southern Indiana winner.

Reading Month Timeouts
The Fever teamed with the Indiana Pacers in 2002-03 to host 10 Reading Month TimeOuts throughout the Indianapolis area. Reading Month TimeOuts are part of the Fever Read to Achieve Program.

Fever Fund Bowling Tournament
Another program assisted by the Fever Advisory Team is an annual bowling tournament to help raise funds for the Fever Fund of the Pacers Foundation. The Fever has made its Fever Fund Bowling Tournament an annual preseason event, which last season was held on April 25 at Brownsburg Bowl, located in Brownsburg, Ind. Fever players and coaches participated in this great event. The Fever Fund has raised over $35,000 from the bowling tournament since its inception in 2001.

FEVER / YMCA Junior Hoops League
For the fourth season, the Fever will partner with the YMCA to host a girls� basketball league from June-August for girls ages 6-15. Young girls not only play in the basketball league and receive a free jersey, they also get the opportunity to interact with Fever coaches and players. In addition, the girls attend a pre-selected Fever game. Last year, the Indiana Fever hosted the finals of the league at Conseco Fieldhouse, where teams participated on both the Main Court and Emmis Court throughout the day. At the conclusion of each game Fever player Stephanie White distributed trophies and congratulated each team member for their participation and hard work. In addition, players also had the opportunity to receive White�s autograph.

Courtside Fever
Courtside Fever is published 11 times in The Indianapolis Star during the Fever season. This Newspapers in Education/Partnership for Young Readers program is designed to promote critical thinking and enhance math and statistical skills, while at the same time encouraging our youth to read. In addition, a Fever coach or player is featured each week, so that the youth can learn more about the Fever team. Co-sponsor of this special newspaper supplement.

Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Coaches Clinic
For the first year and the first time in the history of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program, Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever head coaches joined together to host a Coaches Clinic at Conseco Fieldhouse for area Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA participating coaches of all levels. The hour and a half clinic taught the fundamentals of basketball, as well as the importance of sportsmanship at a young age. Fever assistant coaches and players were on hand to assist with the clinic.

WNBA Community Assist Award
The Indiana Fever has continually set a standard for WNBA teams with its community involvement. On the court, Tamika Catchings is a two-time WNBA All-Star; and off the court, she has starred in the community also, leading Fever players with three WNBA Community Assist Awards over the past two seasons. Catchings won the award for her efforts during the 2002 offseason, as well as during August of 2002 and 2003. Kelly Schumacher won the award during the Fever�s 2003 offseason and Nikki McCray accepted the honor in June 2003. Teammate Natalie Williams has also been a previous recipient of the award.

Pacers Foundation, Inc.
Pacers Foundation, Inc., the public charity founded by Pacers Sports & Entertainment, is dedicated to improving the lives of Indiana�s young people by building individual and corporate partnerships that will provide assistance for projects that benefit Indiana�s youth. Since its inception in 1993, the Pacers Foundation has awarded more than $3 million in cash and in-kind donations through grants to youth-serving organizations, scholarships, and Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever tickets. The Pacers Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life of youth in the state of Indiana by inspiring and motivating them to become involved in community activities, take their education seriously, set personal goals, actualize their dreams and take responsibility for their own lives and neighborhoods. During the 2002-03 Pacers season Pacers Foundation, Inc. granted $125,000 to 25 non-profit organizations offering youth programs in Indiana and an additional $12,000 in scholarships. During the 2002 Fever season, the Indiana Fever Fund of the Pacers Foundation granted $15,000 to four non-profit organizations serving young women throughout the state of Indiana. Throughout the 2002-03 Pacers� and Fever seasons more than $375,000 worth of Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever tickets were distributed.

For the 2002/2003 Pacers� season, several corporations contributed to the Foundation based on the team�s performance: