Gilbert Arenas to Score for Schools

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Washington Wizards All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas has pledged to once again “score” dollars for Washington, D.C. metropolitan area public schools during the 2007-08 season. Arenas will conduct a live drawing on the main court at Verizon Center on Monday, October 29th at 1:00 p.m. to choose the winning schools from a pool of 245 area schools.

Arenas will select one school for every one of the 41 Wizards home games this season and donate $100 for every point he scores to the selected school. Wizards’ owners Abe and Irene Pollin will continue to match Gilbert’s contribution of $100 per point for all 41 of the Wizards away games this season. The ‘Scores for Schools’ program will help supply schools with computers, athletic uniforms and equipment, as well as fund after-school programs.

Special guest James Brown will help Arenas draw the names of the winning schools for the 41 home games, and radio and television personality Big Tigger, along with G-Wiz and Wizards executives, will help draw the winning schools for the 41 away games on behalf of Mr. Pollin.

“It is important that I am involved in this project and that the ‘Scores for Schools’ program continues to provide financial assistance to local area schools in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia,” said Arenas. “In many ways, this is also a comeback season for me. Since I missed the end of last season with my knee injury, it is important that I see this program through an entire season. I have received a great deal of positive feedback from many schools that this program made a difference in many young people’s lives. I want to score a lot of points so we can assist as many students, teachers and schools as possible.”

James Brown, host of The NFL Today on CBS and a correspondent for HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, and radio personality Big Tigger will host the event and help Arenas select the winning schools. Brown, a native of Washington, DC starred locally at DeMatha Catholic High School and was a two-time All-America basketball player. He attended Harvard University where he earned a degree in American Government in 1973. Brown, a former standout on the hardwood earned All-Ivy League honors in his last three seasons at Harvard. Brown has received numerous awards in his career including two Emmy awards and he was recently inducted into the DC Sports Alliance Hall of Champions. In addition, Brown is a minority owner of the Washington Nationals.

Last season, Arenas was the third leading scorer in the NBA with an average of 28.4 points per game; his highest finish ever. Arenas finished the season with a total of 2,105 points scored, resulting in a total of nearly $215,000 raised by the inaugural ‘School for Scores’ program last year.

Two of Arenas’ marketing partners – adidas and Spalding -- will participate in the Scores for School Program. adidas has created a ‘Scores for Schools’ shoe and Spalding will debut Scores for Schools basketballs and lanyards. Fans can purchase the Scores for Schools items at www.GilsArena.com. All profits from the sales of the Scores for Schools logo products will go to the Zero Two Hero Foundation and a donation will be made to the Arial Home Initiative (www.arialhome.org) to partner with them in their goal to build one million homes in ten years.

Since joining the Wizards in 2003, Arenas has been very active in the Washington, DC community. Arenas hosted “Gilbert’s Christmas Dream” during the holiday seasons of 2003, 2004 and 2005 to benefit underprivileged DC area children. Arenas won the NBA Community Assist award for the month of August, 2005. In September of 2005, Arenas purchased $18,000 worth of goods and delivered them to Hurricane Katrina victims sheltered at the DC Armory. Arenas also joined former Washington, DC Mayor Anthony Williams to host a holiday party for local teens at Lucky Strike Lanes in December 2005. In June, 2007 he joined NBA Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson for the Freddie Mac Hoops for the Homeless Basketball Tournament at Verizon Center to benefit six non-profit organizations that serve the homeless.

If you are interested in learning more about Arenas’ ‘Scores for Schools’ Program and his Zero Two Hero Foundation, which promotes the safety and well- being of children in challenging family situations, please log on to www.GilsArena.com.

WHO: Wizards All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas, Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld, The NFL Today on CBS host James Brown and radio and television personality Big Tigger

WHAT: Gilbert Scores for Schools live drawing

WHEN: Monday, October 29, 2007, 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Verizon Center Main Floor

For more information please contact Zack Bolno, Brian Sereno, Daren Jenkins or Whitney Van Wyk in the Wizards Communications office at 202-661-5112.