Pistons Stars and Newspaper Personalities Bowl for Kids
Rasheed Wallace and Chris Webber Host Fundraiser at Thunderbird Lanes in Troy on April 7 Fans Can Bid-To-Bowl with Wallace, Webber and More, Online at Pistons.com
Auburn Hills, MI (May 26, 2007) — Detroit Pistons players Rasheed Wallace and Chris Webber will headline the Pistons and Detroit Newspaper Partnership LP's second annual Bowling for Kids fundraiser at Thunderbird Lanes in Troy on Saturday, April 7 from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. The private event will also feature Pistons players Jason Maxiell, Ronald "Flip" Murray, Dale Davis, Amir Johnson, Will Blalock, Pistons legends Bob Lanier and John Long, Pistons legend and Shock Assistant Coach Rick Mahorn, Shock guard Elaine Powell, Pistons dance team Automotion, Pistons mascot Hooper, Detroit Free Press mascot Yak, PA Announcer Mason, and many personalities from the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News.
The event - which will raise money for the Pistons-Palace Foundation and Detroit Newspaper Partnership's Michigan K.I.D.S non-profit - is presented by Rock Financial for the second straight year. Although the event is for private sponsors only, the general public can get involved by visiting www.pistons.com and checking the Online Auctions link to bid-to-bowl with Wallace, Webber, Davis, Maxiell, Mahorn, Lanier and more. Fans looking to donate to the cause can also purchase raffle tickets at any of the five Great Lakes Bowling Centers, including Thunderbird Lanes, and participate in a raffle to win a spot and bowl at the event.
"This is going to be a fun, family event," said Wallace, founder of the Stand Tall With Sheed Foundation and two-time winner of the NBA's Community Assist Award. "Chris and I are both bringing our families, and I think other players are too. My teammates and I loved this event last year, as it's a great way to raise money for important causes, while doing something we all love to do - bowl!"
Joining the players will be Professional Bowlers Mika Koivuniemi and John Mazza, Palace Sports & Entertainment President and CEO Tom Wilson, Detroit Free Press Executive Editor Caesar Andrews, The Detroit News Managing Editor Susan Burzynski, Rock Financial's David Hall, and several other notable Detroit personalities such as media members Rhonda Walker from WDIV, Mike Stone and Jamie Samuelson from WDFN, and Mojo from Channel 9-5-5. The Pistons and Shock Championship Trophies will also be in attendance for photo opportunities.
All in attendance are teaming up to raise money for thousands of students in Detroit and across Michigan to benefit from literacy and educational programs. Associate sponsors for the event are Comer Holdings, Lear, RARE Foundation, Comerica, Genesys, Guardian, The Everything Sports, University Surgeons, Advantage Properties International, Solecki + Associates CPA, PC, Cornerstone Schools, Skyline Gear, Anna Kubit and Thunderbird Lanes. The event will feature exceptional food donated by Golden Spice Catering, as well as a live auction, raffles and a plethora of one-of-a-kind "buy now" items to help raise additional funds.
The Detroit Pistons Community Relations department, the Rock Financial Community Relations Team and Pistons-Palace Foundation are dedicated to enriching the lives of metro Detroit youth and families, and helping people rise above their circumstances. The Detroit Newspapers in Education's Michigan K.I.D.S. program is dedicated to strengthening literacy and education by providing educators with classroom newspapers, quality instructional materials and training that will enrich the curriculum and assist in teaching reading, writing and thinking skills through use of the newspaper, thus creating a fun and motivational learning environment that will encourage a lifetime habit of reading.
Webber and his family created The Chris Webber Foundation, a public nonprofit corporation, in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan in 1993. The Foundation's mission is to provide positive educational and recreational opportunities to youth, particularly those who are disadvantaged. For more information on events and programs associated with The Chris Webber Foundation, please visit the Community Outreach Section of Chris Webber's official website, www.chriswebber.com.
The Stand Tall With Sheed Foundation, a non-profit, 501(c) 3, creates, finds, and supports programs that directly improve the minds along with the well being of children, and has done so for the past nine years. The contributions and unwavering support have enabled students to advance academically and athletically. For more information, please visit www.standtallwithsheed.com.
About Rock Financial. Rock Financial is a Quicken Loans Company. Quicken Loans Inc. consists of Quicken Loans, the nation's largest online lender and Rock Financial, Michigan's largest mortgage company. Employing more than 4,300 people, the company has been ranked in the "Top 20" of FORTUNE Magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work for in America" list for four consecutive years, and #1 on Computerworld's list of "100 Best Places to Work in Technology" for the past two years. Visit www.RockFinancial.com for more information. For more information about a career with Rock Financial or Quicken Loans, visit www.QuickenLoansCareers.com.
