Cheering for Children

For the past five years, the Madison Square Garden Cheering for Children Foundation, which works closely with the New York Liberty, the New York Knicks, the New York Rangers, MSG Networks and Radio City Entertainment, committed its resources to help support and improve after-school programs throughout New York�s five boroughs. Study after study point to the centrality of positive after-school options in solving so many of the problems plaguing the cities young people.

Since then, the Foundation has dedicated more than four million dollars to help improve after-school programs, and has worked closed with the New York Liberty to make a personal impact on the lives of New York�s children. Through Liberty Cheering for Children, a division of the Cheering for Children Foundation, the Liberty visits after-school programs throughout Manhattan, conducting basketball clinics and player appearances to inspire and excite children. In addition, the Liberty welcomed more than 5,000 children from after-school programs to their home games at Madison Square Garden last season.

In 2003, net proceeds from the silent auction component of the Liberty�s "Summer Bash" event, a night of music and fun for the team and its fans, were donated to the Cheering for Children Foundation.

During the 2004 offseason, the Liberty remained committed in its outreach to the community�s young people. Assistant coach Pat Coyle and Liberty Athletic Trainer Lisa White read to children at an elementary school in Harlem while assistant coach Jeff House donated time to several reading events in New Jersey.

From appearances, fundraising and exposure for local charities, to the Cheering for Children Foundation commitment to the issue of after-school quality across the city, the Liberty is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of all New York�s children.