New York — All fans in attendance will have the opportunity to dunk a mini- ball, with every dunk raising awareness for charity
The New York Knickerbockers today announced a unique partnership with the charity Hedge Funds vs. Malaria to draw awareness and raise funds to assist in eradicating malaria - a disease which kills approximately three million children (ninety percent of whom are under the age of five and ninety percent of whom live in Africa) per year.
Before and during the Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks game on Wednesday March 15, the team will give every fan in attendance the opportunity to dunk a mini basketball as a symbol to show a raised awareness about malaria. The netting of the basketball hoop symbolizes the bed netting that is essential in countries to help combat malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
"As a professional sports team playing in 'The World's Most Famous Arena' we have an obligation to assist charities and raise awareness for just causes," said Karin Buchholz, Knicks vice president of community relations and fan development. "We are proud to partner with Hedge Funds vs. Malaria to raise the awareness of this deadly disease which has been virtually eradicated in North America but remains a killer in underdeveloped countries."
"Malaria is planet earth's largest killer of children - killing more children than aids and cancer combined. It is earth's largest killer of expectant mothers and it is the worst killer of people in world history. It is also the worst marketed disease in world history," said Lance Laifer, founder of Hedge Funds vs. Malaria. "We are ecstatic that one of sports' gilded franchises, the New York Knicks, is assisting us in this very unique event to raise awareness for this important cause."
March 15 will be the official start of "Dunk Malaria," a global event (culminating in the Dunk Malaria Shooters Marathon on March 19) encouraging everyone, everywhere to shoot a shot to raise malaria awareness and funding. Events that night will include a "micro wave," where small hoops will be passed around the stands to enable every fan to partake in the dunk, a literature and sign up table, and the attendance of over 500 supporters of the cause.
For ticket information to join in on "Dunk Malaria" night, call 212-465-6080 or email vs.malaria@gmail.com.
The NBA's New York Knickerbockers basketball team, in its 60th year of operation, is part of Madison Square Garden, L.P. Cablevision Systems Corporation owns Madison Square Garden, L.P., which includes MSG Network; FSN New York; the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); Radio City Entertainment; the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League), and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.
