Freddie Mac's "Hoops for the Homeless" Raises $900,000
Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Washington Redskins Alumni Charles Mann and Art Monk and Washington Wizard Donell Taylor Among those Who Helped Score Big Against Homelessness in Region
Washington, DC – The Verizon Center was filled with excited fans, celebrities, and sponsors this past Saturday. They weren't there to watch their favorite basketball team or listen to a concert. Instead, they filled the stands to help fight family homelessness in the region by attending Freddie Mac's Hoops for the Homeless® charitable basketball tournament.
The event, headlined by basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson, raised much needed awareness and $900,000 to help alleviate homelessness, particularly among children and families in the region. Underwritten by Freddie Mac [NYSE: FRE], all funds raised went directly to six local homeless service organizations and one national organization advocating for the homeless population across the nation. Families with children are among the fastest growing segments of the homeless population. In fact, more than 14,000 individuals are homeless in the DC area, and nearly half of those are families.
Homelessness also affects the youngest members of society. Nearly one-third of the region's homeless are children. While homelessness continues to rise in the District, the majority of homeless families in the region reside in the suburbs. "In the DC region, we've witnessed a significant rise in homelessness, particularly among families and children," explained Ralph F. Boyd, executive vice president, Community Relations, Freddie Mac.
"Family homelessness not only tears families apart, it tears at the fabric of our community. That is why Freddie Mac's Hoops for the Homeless is so vital since it helps more families across the region get back on their feet and reclaim their lives." "I am proud to be participating in Freddie Mac's Hoops for the Homeless once again. This important event gives me a chance to mix my passion for basketball with my concern for the well-being of children," said Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
This three-on-three tournament was a daylong event featuring round robin play with 49 area teams. Each team raised at least $1,000 and was assigned a celebrity coach.
In addition to Earvin "Magic" Johnson, other celebrities who participated in this year's Hoops for the Homeless tournament included Washington Redskin Shawn Springs, former Washington Redskins' Charles Mann, Art Monk, Ken Harvey and Brian Mitchell, Washington Wizard Donell Taylor, Washington Mystics' Alana Beard and Nikki Teasley and Baltimore Raven Mark Clayton.
The $900,000 raised during this tournament will benefit seven outstanding non-profits that work daily to help homeless families in need: Coalition for the Homeless, Transitional Housing Corporation, Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition, Shelter House, New Hope Housing, and the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
Many local companies and organizations helped elevate the issue of homelessness by sponsoring the 2006 Freddie Mac's Hoops for the Homeless event, including The Washington Post, NBC4, Infinity Broadcasting, WMATA, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Washington Mutual, Credit Suisse, FTN Financial, Lehman Brothers, Wachovia, Bear Stearns, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Citigroup, BlackRock, BNP Paribas, HSBC, Fannie Mae Foundation, UBS, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, and JPMorgan.
As the largest corporate funder in metropolitan Washington, DC, Freddie Mac has invested nearly $280 million over the past 15 years to strengthen families and communities, primarily through the efforts of the Freddie Mac Foundation. Also, thousands of the company's approximately 5,000 employees have given their time and charitable contributions over the years by participating in volunteer activities throughout the community such as Hoops for the Homeless.
Washington, DC – The Verizon Center was filled with excited fans, celebrities, and sponsors this past Saturday. They weren't there to watch their favorite basketball team or listen to a concert. Instead, they filled the stands to help fight family homelessness in the region by attending Freddie Mac's Hoops for the Homeless® charitable basketball tournament.
The event, headlined by basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson, raised much needed awareness and $900,000 to help alleviate homelessness, particularly among children and families in the region. Underwritten by Freddie Mac [NYSE: FRE], all funds raised went directly to six local homeless service organizations and one national organization advocating for the homeless population across the nation. Families with children are among the fastest growing segments of the homeless population. In fact, more than 14,000 individuals are homeless in the DC area, and nearly half of those are families.
Homelessness also affects the youngest members of society. Nearly one-third of the region's homeless are children. While homelessness continues to rise in the District, the majority of homeless families in the region reside in the suburbs. "In the DC region, we've witnessed a significant rise in homelessness, particularly among families and children," explained Ralph F. Boyd, executive vice president, Community Relations, Freddie Mac.
"Family homelessness not only tears families apart, it tears at the fabric of our community. That is why Freddie Mac's Hoops for the Homeless is so vital since it helps more families across the region get back on their feet and reclaim their lives." "I am proud to be participating in Freddie Mac's Hoops for the Homeless once again. This important event gives me a chance to mix my passion for basketball with my concern for the well-being of children," said Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
This three-on-three tournament was a daylong event featuring round robin play with 49 area teams. Each team raised at least $1,000 and was assigned a celebrity coach.
In addition to Earvin "Magic" Johnson, other celebrities who participated in this year's Hoops for the Homeless tournament included Washington Redskin Shawn Springs, former Washington Redskins' Charles Mann, Art Monk, Ken Harvey and Brian Mitchell, Washington Wizard Donell Taylor, Washington Mystics' Alana Beard and Nikki Teasley and Baltimore Raven Mark Clayton.
The $900,000 raised during this tournament will benefit seven outstanding non-profits that work daily to help homeless families in need: Coalition for the Homeless, Transitional Housing Corporation, Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition, Shelter House, New Hope Housing, and the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
Many local companies and organizations helped elevate the issue of homelessness by sponsoring the 2006 Freddie Mac's Hoops for the Homeless event, including The Washington Post, NBC4, Infinity Broadcasting, WMATA, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Washington Mutual, Credit Suisse, FTN Financial, Lehman Brothers, Wachovia, Bear Stearns, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Citigroup, BlackRock, BNP Paribas, HSBC, Fannie Mae Foundation, UBS, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, and JPMorgan.
As the largest corporate funder in metropolitan Washington, DC, Freddie Mac has invested nearly $280 million over the past 15 years to strengthen families and communities, primarily through the efforts of the Freddie Mac Foundation. Also, thousands of the company's approximately 5,000 employees have given their time and charitable contributions over the years by participating in volunteer activities throughout the community such as Hoops for the Homeless.
posted by Kirby P at 3:09 PM
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