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WNBA Women's National Basketball Association

Deanna Nolan receives Community Assist Award

August 10, 2007 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release


NEW YORK, August 10, 2007 - In recognition of Detroit Shock guard Deanna Nolan's commitment to the community, the WNBA honored her with the Community Assist Award for June. Nolan actively works with programs that encourage healthy living among young people, especially in her hometown of Flint, Mich. Through The Nolan Foundation, she works to enhance the lives of children, adults and seniors by providing health fairs, disseminating health information, scholarships to health retreats, seminars and basketball clinics.

In June, Nolan taped a public service announcement in support of the Medical Weight Loss Clinic, promoting the clinic's family fit camp. The Michigan-based clinic has been helping people control their weight issues, an important topic to Nolan for over 20 years.

An avid dog lover, Nolan included her two canines, Dallas and Austin, in helping the community. She brought the dogs to the Shock's annual "Be Fit" picnic on June 26 where she talked to local children about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The youngsters enjoyed playing with the dogs, spending time with their favorite players and learning fun ways to stay fit.

In addition to working with family fitness, Nolan spent time promoting breast cancer awareness throughout the month. On June 27, she helped put smiles on the faces of 18 breast cancer survivors by participating in a ball exchange for Breast Health Awareness Night. The breast cancer survivors were invited onto the court before the Shock game to receive special Breast Health Awareness basketballs from Nolan.

Though she is being honored for her contributions in June, her commitment to the community has not been confined to the month. In May, the Nolan Foundation helped open the Rock & Shock Center at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint. At the opening ceremony, Nolan, joined by her mother, delivered an inspirational message to the Club's youngsters, encouraging them to set goals and follow their dreams.

The Nolan Foundation also raised $43,000 for Brownell Elementary School in Flint, Mich. to unveil a new playground. The project held special meaning to Nolan as she attended Brownell Elementary as a student during her childhood.

"Being named the league's Community Assist Award winner is a great honor especially when you consider all the great players in the WNBA and all the work that they do to better their communities throughout the year," said Nolan. "But there are so many people - family members, friends and community leaders - who have played a big role in helping me establish The Nolan Foundation, and this award belongs to them as much as it does to me. So I'd like to thank all of those people for the work that they do behind the scenes, and thank the WNBA for recognizing those efforts."

The WNBA Community Assist Award is presented monthly to the player who best reflects the league's passion for making a difference in the community. In recognition of the recipient's charitable efforts, the WNBA is donating $5,000 to the organization of her choice, The Nolan Foundation.

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