Sports stats



Local Groups Win Basketball Court for YMCA

July 26, 2006 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sacramento Monarchs News Release


New York, July 26, 2006 - The WNBA and the Sacramento Monarchs turned a dream into reality today as they announced the winner of the league-wide 2006 "Court of Dreams" contest. The Sacramento area Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs and YMCA was awarded an official regulation WNBA basketball court for selling the most group tickets to Monarchs games between May 20 and June 30, 2006.

"The Court of Dreams program, every year, reveals the depth of commitment our fans have to their teams and the passion they have for our game, said Donna Orender, WNBA President. "The Sacramento Rotary and Kiwanis clubs and the YMCA not only won this great opportunity for the youth of their community, but demonstrated that hard work, dedication and teamwork do pay off."

The annual promotional campaign involved community groups from each of the 14 WNBA team markets competing to sell the most tickets for local WNBA games through the program period. The Sacramento area Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs teamed up for the second consecutive year after coming in second place last year to the Washington Mystics. This time around, the Sacramento groups won by selling 6,284 tickets for Monarchs games between opening day and June 25.

"The Rotarians in Rotary District 5180 are extremely pleased at winning the 2006 WNBA Court of Dreams. Uniting with the Sacramento YMCA and the Kiwanis Clubs of the greater Sacramento area, we donated Monarchs tickets to deserving youth organizations throughout our community, and won a basketball court for the YMCA," said Doug Kraft, Co-Chair, Sacramento Court of Dreams, Rotary District 5180.

Added Gary Christensen, Kiwanis New Build Project Manager, "The Rotary and Kiwanis team were winners before we won the court with the accomplishment of bringing many deserving kids to a Monarchs game from the tickets that were sold. To win the court of dreams for the YMCA really was the ultimate reward that we worked for so many months to achieve."

As the winner of the Court of Dreams contest, the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs had the opportunity to select one of three prizes: a WNBA-identified basketball court, a Reading and Learning center or $10,000 cash. The group selected the court which will be built at the YMCA of Greater Sacramento.

"Once again, the Sacramento community showed how much they care about kids by working together to win this basketball court," said Ron Payne, General Director and CEO, YMCA. "The YMCA is very grateful that we will be able to expand our youth sports programs for children and families so they may have fun and develop character while playing basketball on the new court at the YMCA. Thank you to Rotary, Kiwanis and the Sacramento Monarchs for helping to make this happen."

"We would like to personally thank Rotary, Kiwanis and the Sacramento YMCA for their amazing efforts to win this court" said Danette Leighton, Vice President, Marketing & Monarchs Business Operations. "Not only did they win a basketball court for the YMCA, but they were able to bring many deserving children in the Sacramento region to a Monarchs game to be inspired and enjoy their first professional sports experience."

A special ceremony will take place at ARCO Arena on August 1st when the Sacramento Monarchs take on the Houston Comets at 7:00 p.m. PT. Members of the Sacramento Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs and the YMCA will be present to officially accept the prize and to tip off construction at the YMCA site.

• Discuss this story on the Women's National Basketball Association message board...

Women's National Basketball Association Stories from July 26, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central