Reigning NASCAR Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year Kasey Kahne and 2005 NBA Rookie of the Year Emeka Okafor today announced the creation of Team 950, a partnership created to provide opportunities for kids in need. NASCAR Superstar Kahne, driver of the famed number 9 Dodge, and NBA superstar Emeka Okafor who wears jersey number 50 for the Charlotte Bobcats, will provide 40 tickets to every Bobcats weekend home game throughout the 2005-06 season plus selected NASCAR events in the Southeast region to deserving underprivileged youth in partnership with the Charlotte Bobcats Foundation.
Both Kahne and Okafor are the reigning Rookies of the Year in their respective sport and share a common passion for helping the Charlotte-area community. "It is really awesome to partner with a rising star like Emeka Okafor and provide a cool opportunity to deserving kids," said Kahne. "The Kasey Kahne Foundation is committed to diversity and giving young children ample opportunities for success and we believe this is another positive step in providing deserving opportunities to young kids. Considering I grew up playing basketball and happen to be a big fan of the NBA, partnering with Emeka is definitely a great opportunity for me and the Kasey Kahne Foundation."
In addition to being one of the NBA's most talented young players, Okafor is one of the league's smartest and well-spoken young leaders. He graduated from the University of Connecticut in three years with a 3.8 grade point average in finance, and led the University of Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team to a National Championship in 2004. Since being the first draft pick ever selected by the Charlotte Bobcats when he was selected overall in the 2004 NBA Draft, Okafor has become the face of the thriving young franchise.
"Having lived in Charlotte for the past year, the racing capital of NASCAR, I've definitely noticed the excitement of racing and why 75 million Americans are passionate fans. Both Kasey and I are young and passionate and we will work together to put Charlotte-area youth in the best position possible to be positive contributors to our community by providing guidance and the tools necessary to meet their goals. It is exciting that we partnered to create Team 950 and our initiative with the Bobcats will hopefully be the first of many Team 950 community programs that Kasey and I spearhead," said Okafor.
About The Kasey Kahne Foundation
The Kasey Kahne Foundation raises and donates funds to charitable organizations that care for chronically ill children and their families. The Foundation is also committed to positive cultural changes by focusing on diversity awareness and giving underprivileged boys and girls ample opportunities for success.
About the Bobcats Charitable Foundation
The Bobcats Charitable Foundation is the philanthropic initiative of the Charlotte Bobcats and the Charlotte Sting. A supplement to the teams' on-going community relations endeavors, the foundation enables the Bobcats and Sting to work in partnership with area organizations to support programs that offer enrichment to the children and youth of the Charlotte region. The Bobcats Charitable Foundation is a powerful resource for our community as we work together to give hope and foster opportunity for our region's future leaders.
