Communities In Schools Partners with the Basketball Hall of Fame and Leadership Foundations

Contact: Debra Montanino
Chief Development Officer
(703) 518- 2582
montaninod@cisnet.org

For Immediate Release
April 7, 2014

Communities In Schools Announces Partnership with the Basketball Hall of Fame and Leadership Foundations

Dallas, Tx. – Today, Communities In Schools (CIS) announced a partnership with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Leadership Foundations at the Omni Hotel in Dallas to empower at-risk youth to stay in school and achieve in life. The partnership will provide mentorship opportunities with Hall of Famers for students across the country. In addition, the organizations will host a benefit auction on eBay through April 12, which will include basketball experiences and autographed memorabilia. The proceeds will be used to provide meaningful programs and resources for underrepresented children and communities throughout the country. CIS Founder and Vice Chairman Bill Milliken, Leadership Foundations COO Scott Lewis, the Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2014 and nine CIS students from the greater Dallas area were all present at the announcement.

“Partnering with the Basketball Hall of Fame and Leadership Foundations will help address both academic and non-academic barriers to achievement for our students,” said Bill Milliken, of Communities In Schools. “We appreciate the Basketball Hall of Fame’s generosity with the eBay benefit auction as it will provide critical resources for the students we serve.”

“This new partnership will bring a world of positivity to underprivileged children and we are thrilled to be a part of something truly special,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “The fact that the game of basketball and our Hall of Famers have the power to inspire children to achieve success in life is remarkable and it is an honor for us to work towards making this difference.”

Communities In Schools, the nation’s leading dropout prevention organization, mobilizes existing community resources to address both academic and non-academic barriers to student achievement. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, home to more than three hundred inductees, promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate and high school for both men and women on the global stage. Leadership Foundations is a global network of individuals and organizations working to transform their cities through effective and collaborative leadership.  

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