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Every one wants to make a difference, to be the hero, but not everyone gets the chance to be.
The Maine Red Claws believe that everyone, no matter how big or small, rich or poor, young or old, can make a difference.
Our organization has a simple hope when it comes to our role in the community: to use the power and magic of basketball
and the Maine Red Claws – its people, team, properties and events – to help better the community in which we live.
The Maine Red Claws aim to be active and involved with the state
of Maine and the many charities and organizations that work hard every day to make this such a great place to live.
The Red Claws will focus our charitable efforts on four areas:
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Health & Fitness:
Childhood obesity is one of our nation’s leading health threats. Today nearly 1 in 3 children in the US are overweight or obese.
Athletic participation benefits children in many ways. It fosters physical fitness, teaches the importance of working together as
a team toward a common goal, and rewards that teamwork with lessons of what can be accomplished with effort. It can enrich lives by
bringing together people of diverse backgrounds with similar interests. The Maine Red Claws Foundation believes that athletics teach
children lessons that they will implement throughout their lives.
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Education:
It takes heart to win, on and off the court. The Red Claws strive to spread the
message of the importance of education. Whether it is through participation in the NBA D-League's
Read to Achieve program, a donation to a local school fund-raiser or a visit to area schools,
the Red Claws will emphasize the value of education.
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Maine's Children:
Did you know that about 19,000 Maine children are uninsured?
Or that more than 46,000 kids under 18 live in poverty? That the teen
deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents nearly outnumber all other causes combined?
That more than 4,000 kids were the victims of child abuse and/or neglect? From hospitals,
to youth basketball, to wish granting organizations, to the many programs that give kids
some place to go after school, the Maine Red Claws goal is to utilize the power and magic of
basketball and the organization's resources to bring joy and happiness to children facing issues
no child should ever have to face. Whether dealing with illness, homelessness, poverty, foster
care/adoption or tragedy, children have an uncanny ability to survive and to thrive; the Maine Red Claws'
aim is to help as many of those kids as possible.
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Community Outreach:
Maine is our home, and like every good citizen, the Maine Red Claws
will use our resources to aid as many charitable organizations as we can.
We will reach out through basketball clinics, school visits, appearances,
and the donation of autographed items for charitable fund-raisers. We all have
an obligation to do our part, and the Maine Red Claws will use our assets
to be a good neighbor and great citizen.
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Through D-League Cares, the NBA D-League is deeply committed to addressing important
social issues with a special emphasis on programs that support education, local community
building and youth basketball. Through year-round programs, the NBA D-League strives to
provide unparalleled time and access to the players, coaches and staff in order to improve
the quality of life in our communities.
D-League Cares is a part of NBA Cares whose goal is to contribute $100 million to charity,
donate more than 1 million hours of hand-on volunteer service to communities worldwide and
create 250 places where kids and families can live, learn and play.
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The NBA Development League strives to develop a love of basketball in youth as an extension of the Jr.
NBA/ Jr. WNBA Program in each of our 16 local markets. The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA believes that lessons learned
on-and off-the-court as a member of a team are lessons that are infinitely useful in building relationships
at school, home and work. By stressing fundamental skill development, teamwork, sportsmanship and positive
adult participation, the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA aims to develop a life-long passion for the game of basketball by
providing a support structure that not only encourages participation, but also makes the game fun and rewarding
for players, coaches, officials and parents.
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