FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Ryan Watson
(212)-465-5945
Hosted by Jill Martin, ribbon cutting ceremony will feature appearances from Knicks front office staff including Steve Mills, Scott Perry and David Fizdale as well as Knicks and Rangers legendary players
The Garden of Dreams Foundation will unveil a newly-renovated space at the Police Athletic League (PAL) Harlem Center on September 20 in Harlem, NY. Beginning at 4 p.m., Knicks front office staff, legendary players from the Knicks and Rangers, the Knicks City Dancers, the Rockettes and over 200 students, grades K-8, will partake in a ribbon cutting ceremony, emceed by TODAY Show contributor and MSG Networks reporter Jill Martin, to celebrate improvements made to the PAL Harlem Center. The newly transformed space was made possible by a 1.1 million dollar grant via the Garden of Dreams Giving Program, which seeks to help the Foundation’s partner organizations through the direct support of long-lasting community projects. The Police Athletic League was able to upgrade the Harlem Center with a refurbished gym, game room, Rose Hall and reception area. Following the ribbon ceremony, students will have the opportunity to partake in an outdoor street fair and enjoy a Jr. Knicks basketball clinic in the newly-minted gym.
The Police Athletic League (or PAL) is New York City’s largest independent youth development not-for-profit organization. Together with NYPD and the law enforcement community, PAL supports and inspires New York City youth to realize their full individual potential as productive members of society. PAL operates diverse programs from Head Start, Day Care and Universal Pre-K programs; to elementary and middle school after-school programs; and summer day camps and summer Playstreets.
Garden of Dreams works with The Madison Square Garden Company and MSG Networks to help children facing obstacles such as homelessness, extreme poverty, illness and foster care. Since it began in 2006, Garden of Dreams has used the magic of these two companies – including the Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, Rockettes, famed showplaces and two sports and entertainment networks – to brighten the lives of more than 375,000 children and their families.
Who: TODAY contributor Jill Martin
Steve Mills, President, New York Knicks
Scott Perry, General Manager, New York Knicks
David Fizdale, Head Coach, New York Knicks
Knicks legend John Starks
Rangers legend Rod Gilbert
KNX Gaming and NBA 2K League Champion Adam Kudeimati
Frederick J. Watts, Executive Director, Police Athletic League
First Deputy Commissioner of the NYPD Benjamin Tucker
Knicks City Dancers performance
Radio City Rockettes
200 PAL Youth
What: Unveiling of a Refurbished PAL Harlem Center including a new gym, game room, Rose Hall and more
When: Thursday, Sept. 20
4p.m.; Media Check-In at 3:30p.m.
Where: PAL Harlem Center
441 Manhattan Ave
New York, NY 10026
**Media Interested in Attending Please RSVP to Ryan Watson at ryan.watson@msg.com **