PLANO, Texas, June 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Portage, Wisc.-area kids received the gift of a new DreamCourt® basketball court, thanks to Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, Nancy Lieberman Charities, WorldVentures Foundation and Sport Court.
Executives from Fairway Mortgage, many of who are alumni of Portage, and area basketball teams, Nancy Lieberman Charities founder, Basketball Hall-of-Famer, two-time Olympian and NBA Sacramento Kings Assistant Coach Nancy Lieberman, WorldVentures Foundation™ and Sport Court opened the DreamCourt in a dedication ceremony at Collipp-Worden Park, June 11.
DreamCourts are top-quality, multipurpose play spaces built in collaboration with WorldVentures Foundation, Nancy Lieberman Charities and Sport Court, with the goal of providing children in underprivileged communities a safe area to play basketball, interact socially, and learn important lessons about teamwork and good sportsmanship. The Portage DreamCourt is the 26th court installed to date across the country, and the first in Wisconsin.
The court is a gift from Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, headquartered in nearby Madison, Wisc. Portage Branch Manager and former Portage basketball player Gregg Steinhaus served as the event emcee. "We are honored to have our partnership with Nancy (Lieberman) who continues to coach and inspire us at Fairway. Completing the DreamCourt is the first step in making this the featured basketball complex in town."
Throughout the dedication, Steinhaus referenced the butterfly effect, reminding everyone that "One person can make one move or action, at any one time, that can then have a rippling effect on other people, forever."
Portage Mayor Rick Dodd opened the ceremony recognizing and thanking the Portage graduates who inspired the idea to build the court. "It is truly a great achievement for this community."
Fairway Mortgage CEO Steve Jacobson, a native of Pardeeville, Wisc., was introduced as the state's leading basketball scorer in 1978, his senior year in high school. Jacobson is known as being someone not afraid to take his shots in basketball or business, and always leading the company with humility. And Fairway CFO Todd Gavinski gave an emotional recollection of being a part of the Portage boys and girls basketball championships in 1982, when he was just six years old. He remembered the mantra then being "Why not us?" and encouraged the youth to "Dream big. Why not you?"
Nancy Lieberman spoke at the dedication, the day after attending the funeral of her dear friend and mentor, Muhammad Ali, remembering him in an inspired message that "We are supposed to shake up the world…and we're supposed to do it together." She goes on to say, "We are commanded to connect generation now to generation next," and to fashion every action in the spirit of giving, as Ali did throughout his life.
Lieberman, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, made history this past summer when she was hired by the Sacramento Kings, becoming just the second female assistant coach in NBA history. Following the ribbon-cutting she officially opened the court with her signature half-court backwards shot accompanied by members of the WorldVentures Foundation, members of the Fairway Mortgage leadership team, City of Portage officials, members of the Portage Chamber of Commerce, and local representatives from WorldVentures.
About WorldVentures
WorldVentures Marketing, LLC, a privately held company based in Plano, Tex., is a global travel club that sells memberships providing a diverse set of lifestyle products and experiences. The company uses the direct sales model to go to market with active Representatives and Members in 29 countries. http://www.worldventures.com
About Nancy Lieberman Charities
Nancy Lieberman Charities was established in 2009 with the mission to provide a healthy physical, emotional and mental environment for young girls and boys to build their self-esteem and confidence so they will be able to make the right choices in the future. Nancy Lieberman is dedicated to expanding and ensuring that educational and sports opportunities exist for youth through her basketball camps and clinics, DreamCourt projects, college scholarships, backpack and laptop programs. www.nancyliebermancharities.org
Media Contact: | |
Connie Glover | |
Public Relations Manager | |
WorldVentures Holdings | |
o: 972.805.5100 ext 2521 | |
c: 214.726.2567 | |
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160613/378748
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150528/219300LOGO
SOURCE WorldVentures Marketing, LLC
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