Maloof Sports & Entertainment Celebrates Cesar Chavez with Day of Volunteerism
Volunteers Install New Track at Will C. Wood Middle School in Honor of the Legacy of Cesar Chavez
SACRAMENTO, Cal., March 31, 2011 — Maloof Sports & Entertainment today held its eighth annual Day of Volunteerism to celebrate the legacy of Cesar Chavez. Together with presenting partners Wells Fargo, The California Endowment and UC Davis Health System, Sacramento Kings players and full-time Team Members from Maloof Sports & Entertainment worked to complete the donation of a new walking track at Will C. Wood Middle School in Sacramento. Additionally, Wells Fargo donated multiple computers and Kings furnishings to complete a “Parent Volunteer” room at the school.
“This is the eighth consecutive season we have celebrated the memory of Cesar Chavez with a Day of Volunteerism,” said Matina Kolokotronis, Maloof Sports & Entertainment President of Business Operations. “To truly honor Mr. Chavez’s lifelong contributions to humanity and his commitment to community service, we decided to make the holiday a ‘day on’ instead of a day off for our employees. Will C. Wood Middle School does a fantastic job serving the students and families of South Sacramento. It is an honor for us to be able to provide this track, which will serve as a valuable asset to the community.”
Will C. Wood is one of three schools in South Sacramento targeted this season by the “Get Fit with the Kings” program, introduced in December. The “Get Fit with the Kings” program was created from the partnership of the Kings, The California Endowment and the Sacramento City Unified School District to improve the lives and health of Sacramento-area youth. The program supports the work of the Building Healthy Communities: South Sacramento team by encouraging students to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle and stay in school as a step to becoming engaged, healthy adults.
“It’s exciting to see the partnership between the Sacramento Kings, The California Endowment and our schools make such an early impact with this wonderful project,” said Jonathan Raymond, superintendent of Sacramento City Unified School District. “The new track at Will C. Wood will bring immediate benefit to the entire school community and will help us in our efforts to stress the importance of healthy living in our schools and throughout Sacramento.”
“At Wells Fargo we believe we’re only as good as the communities we serve,” said Felix Fernandez, Northern California Regional President for Wells Fargo. “Maloof Sports & Entertainment and the Sacramento Kings share this vision of community service. We’re again looking forward to participating in this year’s Day of Volunteerism and working with The California Endowment and UC Davis Health System to help make a difference in the Sacramento community."
“Community is where health happens, and change begins,” said Jim Keddy, Northern California Building Healthy Communities Director. “We are proud of our partnership with the Sacramento Kings and their work in getting young people physically active and healthy.”
“We know that, in order for young people and their families to pursue healthy lifestyles, they need safe and accessible playgrounds and places where they can exercise and be active,” said Erik Fernandez y Garcia, a native South Sacramentan and an assistant professor of pediatrics at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. “The walking track donated to Will C. Wood Middle School is a great contribution to the Building Healthy Communities team and the health of the youth of South Sacramento.”
Volunteers teamed up to put the finishing touches on the new track throughout the day. The final product was unveiled to students and families of Will C. Wood Middle School at 4 p.m. during a special celebration attended by Sacramento Kings players. After the unveil, Kings players interacted with the kids and families on the new track.
In 2004, Maloof Sports & Entertainment became the first private, non-agricultural organization to recognize California’s new Cesar Chavez Day as a holiday. Cesar Chavez’s belief that people have an obligation to contribute to their community mirrors the Maloof family’s commitment to community service.