NBA 2006 Finals Trophy Tour Stops at Fort Bliss, Texas, Courtesy of Toyota and the USO
ARLINGTON, Va., May 26, 2006 -- The NBA and Toyota, in conjunction with the USO, are sending NBA Legend Tim Hardaway and New Orleans Hornets Chris Paul to Fort Bliss, near El Paso, Texas, June 1 on the NBA's 2006 Finals Trophy Tour. This is the third stop on a five-base tour, which includes one-day interactive festivals at the military bases in the heartland of the United States. At each base, the NBA and Toyota will bring a fleet of NBA finals-themed vehicles, including the specially designed Toyota Tundra "Trophy Mobile," the Larry O'Brien Trophy and an interactive NBA-themed activity center. The festivals will feature contests, shooting games, and a variety of activities for children of military personnel.
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"The NBA is proud to partner with Toyota and the USO on executing the tour as a way to thank and honor military personnel and their families for their service to our country," said Heidi Ueberroth, Executive Vice President Global Media Properties and Marketing Partnerships for the NBA. "Toyota and the NBA focus on creating memorable experiences for NBA fans through unique vehicles and basketball interaction, so we are pleased to deliver the NBA experience and the Larry O'Brien Trophy to these military bases."
"Our military men and women face some of life's most difficult situations in service to our country," said Don Esmond, Toyota's Senior Vice President and also a Marine Corps helicopter pilot in Vietnam, where he earned a Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart. "We appreciate their dedication and commitment, and we're glad we can help bring some fun and excitement to everyone through the NBA experience."
"The USO is pleased to support the NBA and Toyota in bringing the tour to military bases in the United States," said Edward A. Powell, USO President and CEO. "The NBA has a long history of support for service members, and NBA players and Legends participated on the USO's first tour to Baghdad in 2003."
The remaining stops on the 2006 NBA Finals Trophy Tour are: June 24 at Fort Riley North, Kan.; and July 3 at Fort Carson, Colo. The tour also has visited Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.; and Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
This tour continues the USO tradition of bringing professional athletes to troops serving far from home. NFL players Bryce Fisher, Patrick Kerney and Max Starks recently returned from a USO tour marking the 40th anniversary of the NFL-USO partnership. Last year, NBA Legends Artis Gilmore and Darryl Dawkins visited military personnel serving in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, and Gilmore, Gail Goodrich, Spencer Haywood and Dan Roundfield brought the Larry O'Brien Trophy to troops in Kuwait.
About the USO
For more than 65 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been providing morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families. The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization, relying on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services. The USO is supported by Worldwide Strategic Partners AT&T, Inc., BAE Systems North America, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Military Channel, S&K Sales Co. and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Other corporate donors, including the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-0600), have joined thousands of individual donors to support the USO. For more information on the USO, please visit http://www.uso.org/.
Contacts: Tiane Harrison, (703) 908-6433 tharrison@uso.org Fort Bliss Public Affairs, (915) 568-4505Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031119/USO
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EDITORS' ADVISORY: Media interested in covering this event are required to contact the Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office at (915) 568-4505.