U.S. National Basketball Team Signs One-of-a-Kind Vehicle for the Child Safety Network (CSN) and Basketball Hall of Fame
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 24, 2007 -- Today in Las Vegas the entire U.S. National Basketball team and coaching staff lent their names to a Signature Series Dodge Viper to help raise funds and awareness for the Child Safety Network (CSN). President of USA Basketball, Jerry Colangelo was the first to sign the CSN Viper before practice in Las Vegas followed by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, Dwight Howard, Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, Redd Miller, Tyson Chandler, Tayshaun Prince, Deron Williams, Mike Miller and Michael Redd Team coach Mike Krzyzewski, and his coaching staff.
The CSN Viper was unveiled in Atlanta at the Hall of Fame Class of 2007 Press Conference. The kick off event in Atlanta gathered signatures from Hall of Famers Bill Walton, Dominique Wilkins, Bob Cousy, Roy Williams, Van Chancellor, David Lattin, Harry Flournoy, Mannie Jackson, K.C. Jones, C.M. Newton, Walt Bellamy, Bob Kurland and Hubie Brown. The Viper will tour the U.S. gathering signatures of Hall of Famers to bring attention to free lifesaving child safety resources available at http://www.csn.org/.
Ward Leber, creator of the Signature Series line of vehicles and CEO of Child Safety Network said: "The next stop for the CSN Viper is the 2007 enshrinement ceremonies at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in September. This should give us a total of over 50 signatures of the world's greatest contributors to the game of basketball."
Attorney and philanthropist John M. O'Quinn has provided the vehicle to CSN and will display it in his future automotive museum in Houston, Texas. Mr. O'Quinn has also donated over $800,000 to support the Child Safety Network's mission to prevent child abuse, abduction, injury, and exploitation.
In regard to his roll in making this historic vehicle come to life, Mr. O'Quinn said: "What drives my interest is not just my love for the game of basketball or my passion for assembling the world's greatest car collection; but to help alert parents to http://www.csn.org/, where a parent can find free safety information for children K-12."
CSN provides free downloadable fingerprint cards, photo I.D. cards, DNA kits, and access to a National Database of registered sex offenders. This type of vital free service needs to be promoted."
Said Ward Leber, CEO of the Child Safety Network: "We are very grateful to the players who will sign the vehicle; and to Mr. O'Quinn for his continued generosity."
About CSN: Since 1989 CSN has worked diligently to reduce the likelihood of children becoming victims of abuse, abduction, injury and exploitation (see http://www.csn.org/). Over 300 U.S. representatives including the office of the president have endorsed the lifesaving efforts of CSN. Parents are invited to receive free safety information to help them raise safer, healthier children from http://www.csn.org/.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Located in the birthplace of basketball (Springfield, Massachusetts), the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level -- professional, collegiate, men and women. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.hoophall.com/ or call 413-781-6500.
About the Signature Series: In 1998 Ward Leber, CEO of the Child Safety Network (CSN) began work to create specialized vehicles to be used as an attraction to help promote automotive and child safety. The first two vehicles were based on the world famous cartoon series Speed Racer; recently a celebrity Lamborghini Gallardo, another Signature Series vehicle received the signatures of over 33 celebrities and broke a world record for most money ever paid for a new Lamborghini. The Basketball Hall of Fame car is the first in the sports line of signature series vehicles. Over 23 different themed vehicles are planned to tour the country and raise funds for CSN while providing free lifesaving information to all parents and kids who see the vehicles. Signature Series vehicles are sourced from Motorcarzdirect.com, the official provider of luxury and exotic vehicles for the project.
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