Teaming for Technology recently participated in the All Star NBA Legacy Project by building a computer lab in West Philadelphia. The following is IBM's press release.

NBA AND SIXERS UNVEIL READING AND LEARNING CENTER AT SHEPARD RECREATION CENTER
Legends of Philadelphia basketball join together to honor the memory of Philadelphia and NBA legend, Wilt Chamberlain. The NBA and Philadelphia 76ers with IBM's help unveiled extensive renovations including a newly finished Reading and Learning Center at the Shepard Recreation Center today in Philadelphia. In addition to the renovations, the NBA and Sixers announced the creation of the Wilt Chamberlain Memorial Fund and unveiled a rendering of a statue of Chamberlain that will be placed on Statue Row at the Spectrum. Co-chaired by Philadelphia and NBA Legend Billy Cunningham, the fund will provide scholarships to academically and athletically talented children in the Philadelphia metro area. As part of the NBA's Read to Achieve Program, the NBA teamed with the Philadelphia Department of Recreation, NBA Players Association, Philadelphia 76ers and Comcast, IBM's Teaming for Technology program, Reading Is Fundamental, Inc.® (RIF) and Scholastic Inc., to complete the renovations and the Reading and Learning Center. The Reading and Learning Center will provide the community with thousands of donated books, resource guides and reference materials at the Recreation Center. In addition, IBM has provided educational software, 10 Personal Computers, two Young Explorer computers and training as part of its Teaming for Technology initiative. "I am pleased to be here to unveil the wonderful renovations and Reading and Learning Center and honor a man that was truly a legend on and off-the-court," said NBA Commissioner David Stern. "This is a perfect example of how the NBA family and our partners work together to fulfill our mission of bringing the joy of reading to children everywhere."

The Shepard Recreation Center's Reading and Learning Center is the latest created by the NBA's Read to Achieve program. In an effort to provide access to reading materials and technology to young people and as a part of its national Read to Achieve campaign, the NBA and its teams plan to create Reading and Learning centers across North America as well as donate more than 250,000 free books to schools and community organizations.

NBA Commissioner David Stern, NBA Players Association Executive Director Billy Hunter, Philadelphia Mayor John Street, Philadelphia 76ers Executive Vice President Dave Coskey, Sixers General Manager Billy King, Ed Kornberger IBM Vice President, Sales, e-Infrastructure Initiatives, NBA Legends Bob Lanier, Nate "Tiny" Archibald, Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Earl Monroe, Paul Arizin, RIF President Carol Rasco, Wilt Chamberlain's family, New York Liberty guard Theresa Weatherspoon, LA Sparks guard Tameka Dixon, and other stars of the WNBA will join members of the NBA family who were on-hand to commemorate the Reading and Learning Center.

"This is a true legacy project," Coskey said. "Through the renovations to Shepard and the scholarship fund that will bear Wilt's name, the legacy of this legend will live on forever."

Since its beginning in 1997, IBM's Teaming for Technology has provided direct benefits to more than 5,000 community-based nonprofit organizations in 17 cities across the US, and technology training to more than 2.5 million young people. In Philadelphia, Teaming for Technology is increasing technology capacity for nonprofit agencies by helping them create technology plans, install computers, and train their staff in the use of technology.

"These renovations are the perfect illustration of a partnership in which every player brings its best resources to the mix," said Ed Kornberger IBM Vice President, Sales, e-Infrastructure Initiatives. "Through programs like Teaming for Technology and Read to Achieve, the IBM and the NBA families are working together to help provide access to the technology needed for today's youth to achieve future success."

In the last few months, IBM's Teaming for Technology, has collaborated with the United Way of South Eastern Pennsylvania and Philadelphia's Arts and Business Council to dramatically increase technology awareness, services and training to the nonprofit community. In the process, a new coalition has been formed that is leveraging the services of 22 different technology service providers to the city's nonprofit spectrum. The new coalition just launched a comprehensive assessment of the Philadelphia region to identify existing technology services and to discover where gaps exist. In addition, the coalition will create a technology resource guide for the nonprofit community.

The NBA's Read to Achieve program is a year-round campaign to help young people develop a life-long love for reading and encourage adults to read regularly to children. Reaching an estimated 50 million children a year, Read to Achieve is the most extensive educational outreach initiative in the history of professional sports. Efforts include the annual donation of more than 200,000 books through a variety of reading events and book fairs, as well as the development of essay contests and on-line programs. In addition to being supported by all 29 NBA teams, 16 WNBA teams, the eight teams that make up the NBA's new minor league, the National Basketball Development League (NBDL), Read to Achieve is supported by the NBA's officials, parents and wives of players organizations, and the NBA Players Association and Retired Players Association.

Founded in 1966, Reading Is Fundamental is the oldest and largest nonprofit children's and family literacy organization in the nation. RIF programs are supported through public/private partnerships with the U.S. Department of Education; more than 150 national foundations, corporations, and local organizations; and countless individuals.

Contact: Jon Hammond, NBA Communications, 917-856-0206 or jhammond@nba.com