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Minnesota Lynx

Lynx Community Efforts Reach Record Numbers in 2008

September 16, 2008 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Minnesota Lynx News Release


MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Lynx's 10th Anniversary Season produced several unforgettable moments, both on and off the court, that will be etched in fans' memories and hearts forever. While the Lynx organization enjoyed its best on-court season since 2004, it is the off-the-court accomplishments of its players, coaches and staff members that have rewarded the Lynx organization with its most successful season in the community in the franchise's 10-year history.

The Don Zierden-led squad featured 12 women who really took to heart and embraced their responsibility to society as role models and examples that fans of all ages can look up to and emulate. The players' genuine passion for giving back to the community has resulted in a vast array of appearances and events that has touched over 60 Twin Cities organizations and thousands of lives.

The Lynx organization shattered franchise records in 2008 with 197 community, corporate, league and draft appearances, which accounted for 257 total hours spent making a difference in the lives of many and affecting change in the Twin Cities communities. Those numbers do not include the speeches, group meetings, and autograph sessions that the players conduct immediately before and after each home game. To further exemplify the players' commitment to their community, of the 11 players who were on the Lynx roster throughout the entire season, 10 of them made 12 or more appearances during the year, including two players who each made 20 appearances.

The players weren't the only representation of the Lynx in the community this season. Members of the Lynx staff donated over 110 hours to the community in 2008, including staff-wide appearances at Ronald McDonald House, Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure, People Serving People and Habitat for Humanity.

"As an organization, the Minnesota Lynx feel that we have a unique opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of men and women, boys and girls, and young and old all across the Twin Cities," said Angela Taylor, Lynx Vice President of Business Operations. "Our players, coaches, and staff are truly committed to fulfilling our mission while we strive for excellence both on and off the court. We are so grateful to the numerous organizations that invited us in to share our stories with their constituents throughout our 10th Anniversary Season, and we look forward to continuing to make a difference over the course of the next decade."

The signature event during the season was the second-annual U.S. Bank Lynx Go Pink Event. The breast cancer fund-raising event aims to generate awareness and raise funds in support of the Minnesota Lynx Foundation and the Jean Stankoski Scholarship Fund. In its second year, the 2008 Lynx Go Pink event raised more money than its inaugural year and continues to support a cause near and dear to many hearts.

The organization's two principal community relations outreach efforts this season were the "10 Days of May-hem" and the "33 Days of Augustus", both immensely successful initiatives. The "10 Days of May-hem" featured 21 events in the 11 days leading up to the home opener and included appearances at the Gillette Children's Hospital, People Serving People and CommonBond Communities. The "33 Days of Augustus" featured nearly 40 events designed to keep the Lynx visible in the community throughout the WNBA's 33-day break for the 2008 Olympic Games. Events included the Timberwolves Shoot-Out, a visit to the Minnesota Zoo, the YWCA triathlon and the inaugural Lynx Volleyball Tournament. The two community outreach plans featured more than 60 events in 43 days, many of which were team-oriented functions.

"We have a tremendous obligation to do whatever we can to make a difference in the lives of our fans and the people throughout the Twin Cities communities," said Lynx center Nicky Anosike. "Each one of the women on this team is a positive role model that the young girls and boys, as well as the men and women, in the Twin Cities can look up to. While we will continue to strive for a WNBA Championship on the court, it is our responsibility to continue to work hard to make a difference off the court, raising awareness for the causes that are important to us, as well as doing whatever we can to inspire boys and girls to dream and to affect change in our community."

Other highlights of the 197-appearance schedule included appearances at four different Breast Cancer Awareness fund-raisers, four Read To Achieve events, three Ronald McDonald House appearances, three basketball clinics and numerous other community-based functions that illustrated the Lynx's commitment to making a lasting impact on the community.

The Lynx could not have accomplished this community outreach without the assistance of several charitable organizations who have partnered with the Lynx and share the same commitment to the Twin Cities communities, including the American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald House of the Twin Cities, the YWCA, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, CommonBond Communities, Habitat for Humanity, the Boys and Girls Clubs, and many others.

"The Ronald McDonald House of the Twin Cities has been incredibly fortunate to partner with the Minnesota Lynx in 2008," said Josh Williams, Manager of Marketing and Communications of Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest. "The multiple visits the Lynx have made to our 'home-away-from-home' for families fighting pediatric illness have been uplifting and meaningful. Not only are the Minnesota Lynx players role models, but they are wonderful women who deeply care about others. We thank them for sharing the gift of basketball with the families of the Ronald McDonald House."

The mission of the Minnesota Lynx organization is to inspire young girls and young boys to dream (and to dream BIG), to empower women to achieve great success, and to affect change in our community. The Lynx strive to positively impact the youth of Minnesota by exposing them to the very charitable and selfless qualities that represent the entire Minnesota Lynx organization and the WNBA.

The Lynx will continue this outreach this fall and winter. Some of the players will remain in the Twin Cities in the offseason to help the Lynx reach out to the community with a new fitness and education platform and a speakers bureau that are being developed as well as bringing back "Lynx Teams of the Week" and the "Lynx Ballerz Tour Live," two high school outreach initiatives that were introduced last fall.

For more information on scheduling an appearance by the players, coaches, and staff of the Minnesota Lynx organization, please contact Moriah Vierkant at 612-673-8430 or via e-mail at vierkant@lynxbasketball.com.

The Minnesota Lynx have already begun their drive for the 2009 WNBA Championship. Season and group tickets for the 2009 season are on sale now by calling 612-673-8400, e-mailing tickets@lynxbasketball.com or visiting www.lynxbasketball.com.

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