Bobcats Sports & Entertainment & YMCA of Greater Charlotte Partner to Promote Healthy Activity for Youth
Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) August 27, 2013 -- Bobcats Sports & Entertainment and the YMCA of Greater Charlotte today announced a multi-faceted partnership focused on promoting healthy activity for kids and teens. Through this partnership, which reaches all YMCA of Greater Charlotte youth basketball participants, youth sports families and volunteer coaches, the Bobcats become the first NBA team to partner with the YMCA to this extent in terms of its wide-ranging scope and cross-promotional opportunities.
“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte,” said Bobcats Sports & Entertainment President & COO Fred Whitfield. “With Dr. James Naismith inventing our sport in a YMCA, this partnership, specifically focusing on youth basketball which is the YMCA’s largest participatory youth sport, is a natural fit. Both organizations clearly share a passion for the game of basketball, and understand the importance of youth sports for improving health, developing character and acquiring skills.”
As part of the partnership, YMCA of Greater Charlotte youth basketball participants will receive a co-branded Bobcats and YMCA jersey as well as a ticket to a 2013-14 Bobcats game with their registration. In an effort to continually assist those involved in the sport of basketball, the Bobcats will also host YMCA coaches at a Coaches Clinic led by the Bobcats coaching staff.
”We are grateful to the Bobcats for their unwavering dedication to our area’s youth,” said YMCA of Greater Charlotte President Andy Calhoun. “This partnership demonstrates the commitment of both organizations to help our community’s young people reach their full potential. Together, we’ll encourage participation in youth sports and enable families to connect as they cheer on the Bobcats.”
Additional aspects of the partnership include: appearances by team mascot Rufus and the Lady Cats at YMCA branches, designated YMCA nights at Bobcats games, exclusive autograph sessions with Bobcats players for YMCA youth basketball participants, opportunities for YMCA youth basketball games to be played on the Bobcats court at Time Warner Cable Arena, select Bobcats basketball camps and clinics hosted at local Charlotte area YMCAs, YMCA hospitality opportunities/meetings hosted at Bobcats games and fundraising opportunities for YMCAs through Bobcats initiatives.
Also, both the Bobcats and the YMCA of Greater Charlotte will establish dedicated web pages on their respective websites to highlight the partnership, play videos and feature photos: http://www.bobcats.com/ymca and http://www.ymcacharlotte.org/bobcats.
The Bobcats have a history of supporting and partnering with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte to nurture the potential of kids and teens. Earlier this year, Bobcats Sports & Entertainment, along with FOX Sports Carolinas/SportSouth announced a $200,000 sponsorship of Y Achievers, a YMCA of Greater Charlotte program that operates in partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Y Achievers is a national YMCA program designed to help teens set and pursue high educational and career goals resulting in graduation and acceptance into a post-secondary institute or adoption of a vocation.
About the YMCA of Greater Charlotte
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The YMCA of Greater Charlotte, comprised of 19 membership locations and two resident camps, engages approximately 292,000 men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Deeply rooted in the community for 138 years, the YMCA of Greater Charlotte has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. http://www.ymcacharlotte.org
Molly Thompson, YMCA Greater Charlotte, +1 (704) 716-6238, [email protected]
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