ATLANTA – The Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club will begin this summer with three signature events on three consecutive days. The activities kick off on Wednesday, June 22 with the first Hawks Foundation court renovation unveiling of 2016. The newly renamed William Walker Recreation Center will be the site of a rededication ceremony featuring remarks from Hawks’ Principal Owner Tony Ressler, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, as well as members of the Jr. Hawks Youth Program. Immediately following the ceremony, the public is invited to celebrate the new court with carnival games, food trucks, Harry the Hawk and team cheerleaders.
The dedication is one of four overall planned for this summer by the Hawks. In 2015, the Hawks Foundation pledged to help create greater access to the game of basketball by revamping 25 metro Atlanta courts in five years. Working with city and county officials, courts at Welcome All Park, Grant Park and Bessie Branham Park have already been transformed over the past year, improving the on-court experience for potentially more than 465,000 residents in underserved areas throughout Atlanta.
“Our commitment to building bridges to our community through the game of basketball doesn’t end with the NBA season,” said Atlanta Hawks CEO, Steve Koonin. “We strive to have a continual presence throughout the city that provides additional resources and supports the great work being done within our local neighborhoods. Each of this week’s activities exemplifies an investment in the future of Atlanta and a promise for the Hawks to be a valued asset to its residents.”
On Thursday, June 23, Philips Arena is open to the city with a free NBA Draft Party driven by Kumho Tire. Fans can share in the excitement and anticipation of a possible rookie selection with fellow “True Believers.” The night will feature appearances by the Hawks’ own Tim Hardaway Jr., Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations Mike Budenholzer and many other Hawks personalities. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the NBA Draft begins at 7 p.m. RSVP at Hawks.com/draftparty for entry.
In April, the Hawks organization announced an innovative partnership with Emory Healthcare to build a state-of-the-art training facility. The busy week wraps up on Friday morning June 24, with the groundbreaking for the location, which will take place in Brookhaven’s Executive Park. The privately-funded facility will house all components of Emory’s Sports Medicine division. Scott D. Boden, MD, Director of the Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center will be on hand for remarks along with Ressler, Koonin and Budenholzer.
The groundbreaking is an invite-only event. Fans are encouraged to stay up-to-date on the facility by visiting www.Hawks.com/trainingfacility.
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