Media Only Contact: John A. Stokes, (202) 673-2195
On Saturday, September 20, at 10 am the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will host a press conference with the DC Department of Health (DOH), American Lung Association of the District of Columbia (ALADC) and Washington Wizard Caron Butler to kick off the District’s Tobacco Free Sports campaign. Directly following the kick-off, Caron Butler will conduct a basketball clinic from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm for 30 pre-identified youth basketball players from DPR's Fort Davis and Sherwood Recreation Centers. The clinic will include stretching and conditioning exercises as well as drills in defense, shooting, and ball handling.
The press conference will highlight the ALADC's new partnership with DPR. Through the agreement, the ALADC will provide Tobacco Free Families campaign banners for DPR’s premiere fields -- Fort Stanton, Banneker, Ridge Road, and Riggs LaSalle -- and its competition fields located at Fort Lincoln, Guy Mason, Chevy Chase, Kenilworth-Parkside, and Turkey Thicket Recreation Center sites. Additionally, participants of DPR’s basketball leagues will receive t-shirts with the Tobacco Free Families logo.
ALADC, a co-sponsor of the morning’s sports clinic with Caron Butler, will also provide the agency with tickets for youth to attend various franchise games (when available) as well as develop a youth coalition to train youth ambassadors to talk peer-to-peer on how to promote smoke-free communities and activities.
WHAT: District’s Tobacco Free Sports Campaign Launch
WHEN: Saturday, September 20, 10 am – 12:30 pm
- Press conference: 10 am - 10:20 am
- Interview Opportunities: 10:20 am - 10:30 am
- Basketball clinic with Caron Butler: 10:30 am - 12:30
WHERE: Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Avenue, NE
VISUALS AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:
- Clark E. Ray, Director, DC Department of Parks and Recreation
- Dr. Pierre Vigilance, Director, DC Department of Health
- Rolando Andrewn, CEO, American Lung Association of the District of Columbia
- Caron Butler, Player, Washington Wizards
- Thirty male and female youth basketball players from Sherwood and Fort Davis Recreation Centers