MEDIA RELEASE
NBA PLAYER TO VISIT GRENADA DURING TWO YEAR
ANNIVERSARY MONTH OF HURRICANE IVAN
Washington Wizards Center and UNICEF Supporter Etan Thomas Supports Community
Rebuilding Projects on the Island
NEW YORK/ST. GEORGES, GRENADA—September 1, 2006: In an effort to promote sport for
development and other psycho-social projects aimed at helping at-risk children, Washington Wizards
center, Etan Thomas will today travel to the Caribbean island nation of Grenada accompanied by
regional representatives from UNICEF.
Thomas, who is 28 and of Grenadian descent, will also review the status of projects supported with
funds donated by him in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. On September 10, 2004 the massive storm
devastated much of the island’s infrastructure.
"Young people in Grenada and the rest of the Caribbean face many challenges, like violence,
poverty, drugs, and AIDS”, says Thomas. “I have a special connection to Grenada because that is
where my grandmother is from, so it is important to me to come back and help in anyway I can. If I
can offer advice, share my experiences and lend support to efforts that make a difference in kids'
lives, I am more than happy to do so."
While in Grenada the 6’10” Thomas will pay a courtesy call on the island’s Prime Minister, the
Honorable Dr. Keith Mitchell and also meet with Minister of Youth, the Honorable Emmalin Pierre. He
will also meet with the President of the Grenada National Basketball Association and with young
people who have been involved in the UNICEF community projects he currently supports.
Additional highlights of his visit include the opening of Basketball Fiesta in the St. Patrick’s Basketball
League. The trip marks Thomas’ second visit to Grenada, having first visited the island in July 2005
Thomas donated a total of $40,000 to UNICEF in the wake of Hurricane Ivan. Other NBA players, as
well as the National Basketball Association donated funds attributable to Thomas' generous gift,
totaling $100,000 for UNICEF's recovery efforts in the Caribbean.
Thomas’ and the league’s community involvement in Grenada serves as part of the NBA Cares
platform, the league's global community outreach initiative that builds on the NBA's long tradition of
addressing important social issues. NBA Cares focuses on the areas of education, youth and family
development and health-related causes, and partners with internationally recognized youth-serving
organizations such as UNICEF to make a lasting impact in these areas.
UNICEF's Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Tom Olsen noted that Thomas'
visit could not be timelier.
United Nations Children’s Fund
Caribbean Area Office
1st Floor, United Nations House
Marine Gardens, Christ Church
Barbados
Telephone 246 467 6000
Facsimile 246 436 2812
bridgetown@unicef.org
www.unicef.org
MEDIA RELEASE
"This visit is very opportune because it comes at a time when UNICEF globally is promoting the use
of sports as a useful tool towards the overall development of young people," said Olsen.
"Sports can help build self esteem, respect, leadership and cooperation which are important life
skills needed to prepare young people to make positive choices about social issues when confronted,
he said. “Sportsmen like Mr. Thomas can therefore be seen as positive role models for many
Caribbean youth and UNICEF is pleased to have him on board as a partner,” he added.
Thomas will be accompanied on this visit by his wife and other family members and it is expected
that at the end of his visit, he will have a better appreciation of the issues facing Grenadian children
and provide opportunities for more interest and support for key issues facing young people in the
Caribbean.
* SEE PLAYER PROFILE ATTACHED.
About UNICEF
Founded in 1946, UNICEF helps save, protect and improve the lives of children in 156 countries and
territories through immunization, education, health care, nutrition, clean water and sanitation.
UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it does, the most
disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority. For more information about
UNICEF or to make a donation, please visit www.unicefusa.org or call 1800-4UNICEF.
About NBA Cares:
NBA Cares is the league's global community outreach initiative that addresses important social
issues with an emphasis on programs that support education, youth and family development and
health-related causes. Over the next five years, the league, players and teams will raise and
contribute $100 million for charity, donate more than 1 million hours of hands-on volunteer service to
communities around the world, and build more than 100 places where kids and families can live,
learn and play.
For further information, please contact:
Mark Connolly, Regional Adviser, HIV/AIDS, UNICEF - Latin America and the Caribbean, Tel ++e:
(507) 301-7446; mconnolly@unicef.org
Tom Olsen , UNICEF Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Tel ++ 246 4676151
Email: tolsen@unicef.org
Elaine King, Project Officer, health and Nutrition, UNICEF Office for Barbados and Eastern
Caribbean, Tel: ++ 246 467 6165 e-mail: eking@unicef.org
Saskia Sorrosa, Senior Manager, Communications, Tel 212 407 8463, ssorrosa@nba.com
United Nations Children’s Fund
Caribbean Area Office
1st Floor, United Nations House
Marine Gardens, Christ Church
Barbados
Telephone 246 467 6000
Facsimile 246 436 2812
bridgetown@unicef.org
www.unicef.org
MEDIA RELEASE
Learn more at www.unicef.org/barbados
United Nations Children’s Fund
Caribbean Area Office
1st Floor, United Nations House
Marine Gardens, Christ Church
Barbados
Telephone 246 467 6000
Facsimile 246 436 2812
bridgetown@unicef.org
www.unicef.org