Olympic Gold Medalist and WNBA Super Star Candace Parker to Inspire Kids at Special Needs Camp
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 27, 2013 -- WNBA MVP and All-Star, Candace Parker, along with her Los Angeles Sparks teammates, Farhiya Abdi and Kristi Toliver, will conduct a special basketball clinic for children with special needs and their typical siblings and peers at Special Needs Network (SNN)’s Joe Patton Academy Camp (Camp JPAC) on Tuesday, July 30. This will be the third year in a row that the L.A. Sparks have partnered with SNN to put on “Sparks Day” – a day that incorporates basketball training and self-empowerment to inspire young campers to work hard and reach for their dreams.
A valued community partner of Special Needs Network, the L.A. Sparks have supported the organization in various ways such as donating exclusive ticket packages with VIP seats and gift bags to yearly fundraisers and offering hundreds of complimentary game tickets to SNN children and families. Plans for an Autism Awareness Night at a Sparks game are currently in development.
“Candace and the entire L.A. Sparks organization have been long-time supporters of our organization and we are absolutely thrilled to have them join us again this year,” says Areva Martin, Esq., Special Needs Network’s president and co-founder. “On and off the court, it is such a gift to see the positive impact Candace has on our kids. She’s truly an inspiration to us all.”
Cited by Sports Illustrated as the “most talented player in the history of women's basketball,” Parker began her career as the most sought after recruit and was drafted by the University of Tennessee where she led the team to win two NCAA titles. During her time at Tennessee, Parker received multiple MVP recognitions, as well as Rookie of the Year in 2006. The L.A. Sparks drafted Parker during the first round in 2008. That same year, while playing on the U.S. Olympic team in Beijing, China, Parker won two Olympic gold medals. In 2009, Parker was named Top Female Athlete at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.
“It’s an honor to join the Special Needs Network team at Camp JPAC,” says Parker. “Each year, I come to share my skills with these children and each year I leave feeling inspired by them.”
Parker is the first WNBA play to win MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season. She was also the first WNBA play to dunk in consecutive games and she made history scoring the most points in a debut game. Parker, who is also a mom, prides herself on setting a positive example for young children, especially her young friends at SNN’s Camp JPAC.
ABOUT SPECIAL NEEDS NETWORK
Special Needs Network (SNN) is based in Los Angeles and is California’s leading grassroots autism advocacy organization. As a nonprofit organization, SNN was established to help families faced with autism and other developmental disabilities. The organization focuses on raising public awareness, impacting public policy, increasing education and access to resources for families, children and adults. For more information, visit http://www.specialneedsnetwork.org or call (323) 291-7100.
Jessica Munday, Trio Solutions, Inc., http://trio-solutions.com, 843-216-0442, [email protected]
Share this article