Basketball superstars LeBron James, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony announced today they are joining forces to host a four-city exhibition tour visiting Akron, New Orleans, Chicago, and New York. Each event will feature an exhibition game with two teams of 10 renowned players (to be announced), charitable community events, and basketball skills clinics for local children, presented by Five-Star Basketball, the premier basketball teaching and instruction program in the country and the former camp of the four tour hosts. Proceeds from The Google+ Homecoming Tour will benefit each player’s charitable foundation. Google+ is the title sponsor of the event, MetroPCS is the premiere sponsor, and Five-Star Basketball, American Family Insurance, Mission AthleteCare, Sheets Energy Strips, and Zico Coconut Water are tour sponsors.
“I am really proud of the work we’re doing in Akron and know what this tour means for the community,” said James. “The kids in our Wheels for Education program are working so hard and this is a great way to encourage them. I am also excited about going with the guys into their communities, helping their charities, and connecting with fans.”
“Everyone knows my foundation work and making a difference in the community is of the utmost importance to me,” said Paul. “But being able to play the game I love alongside my friends LeBron, D. Wade, and Carmelo, as well as raising money for charity, is a win-win situation.”
“It is so important for me to never forget where I came from. Chicago will always hold a special place in my heart and the people there have constantly supported me and shaped me into who I am today,” said Wade. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity for Wade’s World Foundation to continue to give back to this community. I hope this tour inspires others to become more active and make a difference.”
“I am so excited to have this opportunity to participate in this tour. To couple two of the things I love to do – play basketball and give back – is special,” said Anthony. “This is just the beginning of a movement to facilitate change in our communities and I am happy to be a part of a group of guys willing to lead the charge.”
All four host players will participate in each charitable community event, including:
- · The LeBron James Family Foundation (LJFF) initiative Wheels for Education will host an event with 342 third graders to reinforce the importance of reading and staying in school. The third graders are part of a long-term LJFF initiative that provides support and incentives for achievements during key milestones through their high school careers.
- · The CP3 Foundation will host local New Orleans kids at its CP3 Afterschool Zone, where kids will have the opportunity to join in activities such as yoga, dance, karate, cooking classes, gardening and more, in order to enhance and promote education, health, sports and social responsibility for youth and families.
- · The Wade’s World Foundation will join By The Hand Club For Big Kids (CBK) to give Chicago adolescents from ninth to twelfth grade one-on-one mentoring and academic support with a focus on leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
- · The Carmelo Anthony Foundation will unveil a new basketball court in an under-served area of Brooklyn as part of its Be More Project. The Foundation refinished the surface of the court, supplied new backboards, nets, and rims as well as light landscaping in the immediate area. In addition, The Carmelo Anthony Foundation will partner with Feed the Children and The Boys and Girls Club of America to supply 800 meals to families in the surrounding Brooklyn neighborhoods.
All four exhibition games will be streamed live on the official The Google+ Homecoming Tour page, accessible at www.HomecomingTour.com. The page will also feature an array of integrated social media content from Digital Artists Entertainment, a creator of social digital content platforms for top sports and entertainment franchises. Content will include exclusive behind-the-scenes images and videos from each event, as well as opportunities to video chat with the players in Google+ Hangouts. Fans can sign up at Google+ to participate.
Tickets go on sale at Ticketmaster (www.TicketMaster.com) at 10:00 a.m. local time November 22 for New Orleans and Chicago, and 10:00 a.m. local time November 23 for New York. Tickets for Akron will be available at 10:00 a.m. local time on November 22 via 888-99-AKRON and at the InfoCision Stadium ticket office (375 E. Exchange St.).