timberwolves.com lynxbasketball.com For more information on the Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation or the Lynx Foundation, please contact: Community Relations 600 First Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55403 612.673.1600 fastbreakfoundation@timberwolves.com FOUNDATION Art Direction and Design: Emilie Rainsberry Photography: David Sherman, NBA Photos Copywriting: Sarah Haugen
Dear Friends As an NBA and WNBA owner, one of the accomplishments I'm most proud of is our organizations' commitment to the community in which we live and play every day. A lot has changed with our franchises through the years, but our commitment to Minnesota remains constant and strong through our efforts of the Minnesota Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation and the Minnesota Lynx Foundation. During the past year, these two foundations combined to support more than 2,500 non-profit organizations, contribute more than $1 million through grants and in-kind donations, commit more than 4,300 volunteer hours and place countless smiles on the faces of children across Minnesota. Whether remodeling a Reading and Learning Center, honoring Minnesota military personnel and their families, recognizing our smallest fans suffering from life-threatening illnesses or developing a lifelong love for reading, our Foundations impact young people each and every day. As part of those efforts, we also know it's important to have players tightly woven into the fabric of our community. With the players-funded Tickets for Kids program, the 4th Annual Kevin Love Coat Drive and Anthony Tolliver's Holiday Party, our players are putting their individual signatures onto the community in which we play. This Annual Report demonstrates the commitment of our players, owners, staff, fans and sponsors as active participants in our community and I hope you take as much pride in our off-court successes as I do. If you would like to get involved or learn more about either Foundation, please contact our Community Relations department (612.673.1636 or fastbreakfoundation@timberwolves.com). Thank you for your continued support of our teams, our initiatives and our communities. Glen Taylor, Majority Owner Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx The Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation provides and supports hands-on programs that positively impact Minnesota youth. Through giving, education and basketball opportunities, the Foundation enables young people to make responsible decisions, contribute to their futures and experience lifelong memories. The mission of the Minnesota Lynx Foundation is to raise funds and awareness to support breast cancer research and services in the state of Minnesota.
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Operation Minnesota Heroes The FastBreak Foundation hosted over 50 military guests for an evening of entertainment at SEVEN Steakhouse. Timberwolves players and coaches showed their appreciation by serving their guests with a Thanksgiving-style meal. Give Thanks Operation Minnesota Heroes, presented by the Nancy and Roger McCabe Foundation and POPP Communications, honored and recognized Minnesota troops and their families with in-arena presentations, reuniting of families, a Reading Timeout, the annual Give Thanks event and two $5,000 grants. With the help of The Big Change-up, the FastBreak Foundation was able to surprise a soldier and his fiancée with a $65,000 wedding package. Corey Brewer and Wayne Ellington hosted a Reading Timeout with two U.S. Army soldiers at Annunciation Elementary School in Minneapolis. 7
Holiday Shopping For Kids For the 6th Annual Holiday Shopping for Kids, the Timberwolves teamed up with Minnesota Adoption Resource Network and World Vision to surprise children with a holiday shopping spree at Target. The children were paired with their own personal shoppers, Timberwolves players and coaches. 2010-11 Annual Report Season of Giving During the Season of Giving, presented by World Vision, the FastBreak Foundation focused on organizations and events that work to improve the holiday season for Minnesotans in need through Holiday Shopping for Kids, a Reading Timeout, a toy drive, Kevin Love's Coat Drive and two $5,000 grants. Kevin Love partnered with Salvation Army and Comcast for the 3rd Annual Kevin Love's Coat Drive. During the month of December, the Coat Drive collected over 1,700 coats to be donated to those in need. Anthony Tolliver surprised 10 families with a holiday party and gifts at a Wolves game. 9
Wolves Care Luke Ridnour and Kosta Koufos visited Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota in Minneapolis for a Reading Timeout and pictures with patients. Timeout at Children s Hospital in Minneapolis WolvesCare month, presented by C.H. Robinson Worldwide, focused on our smallest fans with the biggest hearts children with terminal or chronic illnesses. Through in-game elements, hospital visits, a Mall of America Takeover and two $5,000 grants, the FastBreak Foundation recognized organizations that work to service support, and encourage these courageous Minnesota youth. Timberwolves players escorted 15 children from HopeKids to the Mall of America for a fun day at Build- A-Bear Workshop, games and a tour of Underwater Adventures. 11
Black History Month A History Lesson Martell Webster and Jonny Flynn escorted 50 students on a tour of the Minnesota Historical Society to learn more about influential black leaders from Minnesota. Black History Month focused on organizations and events that work to educate, honor and celebrate black history for youth in Minnesota through in-game elements, a Reading Timeout, two $5,000 grants and a Black History Month Flashback event. The Givens Foundation received a $5,000 grant for their work to educate students on Black History in Minnesota. 13
2010-11 Annual Report Read to Achieve During the month of March, the Foundation honored Heroes in the Making who were working with youth to improve literacy in Minnesota schools. Timeout For Reading Read to Achieve month, presented by Hennepin County Medical Center and Travelers, focused on events that work to encourage Minnesota youth to read at home through in-game elements, the Starting Five Reading Program, 120 Reading Timeouts by staff and players and two $5,000 grants. 5 Travelers and Wolves staff, with the help of Crunch, hosted Reading Timeouts for AVID students in St. Paul. 15
Think Green The FastBreak Foundation teamed up with MY 29 to create a statewide "Think Green" school competition. The winning school received a grant, a surprise visit from Crunch and tickets to the Wolves Think Green game. Wolves Think Green During Think Green Month, the FastBreak Foundation focused on organizations and events that help to preserve or improve our environment with in-game elements, hosting a Think Green contest in local schools and two $5,000 grants. Because of their commitment to the environment and education students, Community Design Center of Minnesota received one of the $5,000 grants for the month of April. 17
Taste of the Timberwolves The Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation honored sponsors, Starkey Hearing Foundation and POPP Communication, for their involvement with Taste. Sweet16 The FastBreak Foundation hosted its 16th Annual fundraiser Taste of the Timberwolves, by inviting over 400 guests to enjoy an elegant evening of fantastic food from 16 different Twin Cities restaurants. This event, presented by Starkey Hearing Foundation, featured unique silent and live auctions and concluded with players competing in a Wolves Minute to Win It game. Over 20 of the Twin Cities best restaurants were represented and presented the guests with delicious tastings of their menu. 19
Summer 2011 Maya Moore shows one lucky student how to properly shoot the ball during a Lynx Move clinic to kick-off the 2011 Lynx season. Lynx Give Back Lynx 2011 draft pick, Amber Harris, gives basketball pointers to youth as part of the Lynx Move initiative which encourages youth to "get moving" in a way that is fun! The Minnesota Lynx continued their dedication to community service throughout the summer. Initiatives included breast health awareness, literacy, nutrition and fitness as well as the annual fundraiser, Catwalk for a Cure. The students of FAIR school were happily surprised with a morning of basketball pointers, drills, and games from Lynx rookies Amber Harris and Maya Moore. 21
Summer 2011 Maya Moore and Candice Wiggins modeled the latest fashions as part of the 2011 Minnesota Lynx Catwalk for a Cure to raise money for the Lynx Foundation which supports breast cancer research in Minnesota. As part of the 2011 WNBA Finals the Minnesota Lynx hosted a Dribble to Stop Diabetes clinic to show students that the simple and fun activity of dribbling a basketball helps promote a healthy, active lifestyle. The Minnesota Lynx awarded the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Minnesota Affiliate a grant for Breast Health Awareness week. 23